Damascus, (SANA) – Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Sufyan al-Allaw said on Wednesday that his Ministry plans to produce around 2 billion barrels of oil per day from 2009 to 2025 and provide around 160 billion cubic meters of clean gas to consumers in the electricity, transport, industry and petroleum sectors.

During a press conference on the Ministry's plans and programs for 2010, al-Allaw said the Ministry announced earlier this year the invitation of specialized international companies to provide tenders for developing seven standing fields in order to increase their productivity.

He also said that an announcement will be made in March on accepting tenders from international companies for exploration and excavation of around 8 new sites with a total area of approximately 60,000 square meters.

The Ministry aims to re-announce exploration of four sites in Syrian reginal waters with a total area of 5,000 square kilometers, the Minister added.

On gas production in Syria, al-Allaw noted that Syria's gas production is constantly increasing, saying that the Ebla Gas Plant should be put into service in 2010, producing around 2.5 million cubic meters of clean gas per day, in addition to producing gas condensates and gas for domestic use.

He also said that the Hayyan Gas Plant south of Palmyra will hopefully be put into service by the end of 2010. It is expected to produce 3.5 million cubic meters of clean gas per day, pointing out that Syria currently imports around 2.5 million cubic meters of gas per day from Egypt through the Arab Gas Pipeline, adding that the increased production will help expand the uses of gas in the coming stage.

H. Sabbagh / Mazen