Homs, Central Syria (SANA)-In 2010, Syria will further focus on refining oil and improving the performance of Homs and Banias refineries, Minster of Oil and Mineral Resources Sufian Allaw said on Wednesday.

Attending a workshop on the proposals submitted by Shell Oil Company for developing work situation in Homs and Banias refineries, Allaw added that the projects studied by the company last year will help increase the economic revenues of the two refineries in addition to achieving USD 225 millions as additional revenues.

He went on to say that the revenues of the two refineries could hit USD one billion during the next five years with limited investments that would not exceed USD 140 millions.

For his part, Director of the Syrian General Company for the Storage and Distribution of Petroleum Products Nur Eddin Makhlouf said that many of the proposals of Shell Company are taken into consideration.

Expert Andrew Mortimer from Shell Company presented the final results of a study on the project of developing work situation in Banias Refinery which focuses on the qualifications and benefiting from experience of those who work at the two refineries to improve the economic, environmental and health conditions.

Ruaa Al-Jazaeri / Mazen