TotalEnergies Signals Move Toward Syrian Offshore Exploration

The proposed agreement centers on Block 3, an area that has remained historically unexplored despite its proximity to established regional hydrocarbon hubs. TotalEnergies is coordinating these efforts alongside partners QatarEnergy and ConocoPhillips, building upon a technical review initiated under a memorandum of understanding with the Syrian Petroleum Company. While Pouyanné confirmed that the company is prepared to transition from preliminary discussions to a binding deal, he maintained a clear distinction between offshore prospects and the volatile onshore landscape, which remains off-limits for current investment.

Damascus is actively courting international majors to revitalize its energy sector following a decade of conflict. Syrian Petroleum Company CEO Youssef Qablawi has previously signaled that the state is prepared to issue licenses to global firms, citing internal estimates of trillions of cubic meters of gas reserves. By engaging with Western majors like TotalEnergies, Eni, and Chevron, Syrian officials aim to transform speculative offshore potential into operational extraction, provided that security and commercial frameworks can satisfy the requirements of international partners.