SDF control of oil fields hinders Syria's reconstruction efforts

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) control of oil fields in Syria is hindering the country"s reconstruction efforts, which are desperately needed after nearly 14 years of war. The reconstruction process is crucial for allowing millions of Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return home and revitalize the Syrian economy. However, the SDF"s actions are delaying the implementation of the March 10 agreement regarding Syria"s territorial integrity and obstructing the country"s reconstruction.

The estimated cost of rebuilding Syria ranges from $250 billion to $400 billion. According to Gulfsands CEO John Bell, Syria could potentially generate up to $15 billion annually from its oil production, which would provide essential funding for reconstruction. Currently, the Syrian government relies heavily on foreign aid due to a lack of oil revenues.

Despite international pledges for investment in Syria, these commitments have not yet materialized, and even if they do, they will not resolve the immediate housing crisis faced by ordinary Syrians. In an effort to raise funds for reconstruction, a donation campaign has been launched across various governorates, but it has yielded limited results. The largest contribution has come from the governorate of Idlib, totaling $180 million, while other areas have raised significantly smaller amounts.

The SDF"s control over oil fields has resulted in an estimated loss of $3.85 billion in revenues from Block 26 alone since January 2017. Currently, the SDF produces approximately 80,000 barrels of oil per day using outdated methods, whereas modern techniques could increase production to as much as 500,000 barrels per day. If the Syrian government were to regain control of all oil fields and secure proper investments, it could potentially yield up to $15 billion annually from oil production.

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The ongoing control by the SDF continues to exacerbate the financial struggles of the Syrian population, preventing them from utilizing their own resources for reconstruction.