Concerning the domestic gas, Allaw said during a press conference that Syria's gas production covers 50% of its demand, pointing out to negotiations with Iran and Algeria to provide Syria with domestic gas.

Allaw revealed that the Syrian oil sector has lost USD 4 billion because of the oppressive EU and US sanctions.

Allaw said  at a meeting held today at the building company Banias refinery to the concerned sector, production of oil and oil products that the refinery never stop production, explaining that the need for Syria daily diesel fuel more than 30 million liters are imported 16 million and the rest is produced locally, pointing to the existence of difficulties in the process of transport and distribution of material to the provinces because of armed terrorist groups that attacked the railway tanks and damage them.

The minister pointed to a project to increase storage capacity in reservoirs gas Banias, which is one of important projects to secure a sufficient stock of material gas domestic savings senior economist of the receiving vessels of large tonnage, adding that the project was carried out by a company of Dalian China at a cost of 18 million euros to increase the number of reservoirs to become energy storage material 14 thousand tons.

Alao confirmed that the material gas is available and shipping on a daily basis for all the provinces, either by tankers or trains, indicating that the gas cylinder sold to citizens at a lower price than the cost of difficulties with transportation, manufacturing and replacement.

The minister stressed the importance of conducting a study with a mechanism of tankers carrying petroleum products white Banias to different areas and find a well thought out plans for its work and ensure their protection, each according to its destination asking concerned luring offers as soon as the maximum for the pipeline project to transport gas from the plant thermal Banias to the refinery to convert the combustion in the refinery of fuel oil to natural gas, thus putting an end to the pollution.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Minister made an inspection tour on the gas project and the mouth of the Syrian Company for Oil Transport workers and listened to the mechanism of action and how to unload cargo ship gas and diesel in the mouth.

The USA and EU imposed unjustified and illegal embargo on Syrian Oil export inflicting huge damage upon the Syrian People.

In a press conference yesterday, Minister Allaw added that the armed terrorist groups also targeted crude oil and gas pipelines, which in turn. Increased the amount of damage to more than 2 billion SYP.

”21 workers were martyred, 24 others injured by the armed terrorist groups which stole 43 cars and inflicted damage on 42 cars used by the Ministry,” said Minister Allaw, not mention the material damage to Oil and Gas constructions, buildings and infrastructures.

In Geneva yesterday, Minister of Health, Dr. Wael al-Halaqi, declared that the armed terrorist groups’ attacks caused the martyrdom of 12 Medical staff including doctors, nurses, injury for 25 staff members, and inflicted damage on 12 hospitals, 43 health centers, and 76 ambulances.

Earlier Minister of Electricity Imad Khamis stated that the direct material damage inflicted by armed terrorists upon Electricity Grids and Networks amounted to about SYP 713 million whereas the value of indirect economic damage which hit the national economy reached around SYP 23 billion.

(UPI) U.S. news agency quoted Allaw as saying to local media, that "The EU decision to suspend work in Syrian oil sector include some companies who are free to act," noting that "the work continues through the national cadres that are as efficient and effective as their foreign counterparts , and are able to carry out all required tasks. "

Allaw Revealed that "new companies can operate in the field of oil and new contracts, and many contracting announcements," explaining that "the value of the energy bill in Syria amount to $ 17 billion annually, and the oil ministry contributes about 80% of this bill.."

The European Union imposed a series of sanctions on Syria because current situation, which included Syrian oil industry, and was most recently imposed sanctions on the General Petroleum Corporation and two companies in the oil sector. Shell) the company for Energy, based in the Netherlands, to stop its activities in Syria to implement A new round of sanctions, and then the French "Total" Declaration stop its activities in compliance with the sanctions.

“al-Hayat” newspaper of London quoted Allaw as saying that the production of Syrian oil fell from 380 thousand barrels per day to between 250 and 270 thousand barrels, a rate ranging between 20 and 25% because of the sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States on oil exports and on investment in the sector. "

The United States and European Union and other several imposed packages of sanctions on Syria because of what they called "the repression of the demonstrators", including the freezing of banning the import of crude oil, and prohibit any future investment in oil, which led to the reluctance of traders and companies from venturing into the Syrian oil sector, according to reports media.

And on the withdrawal of any foreign company from the Syrian oil sector Allaw denied that, saying that "these companies continue to work, but we had to reduce the production of national and foreign companies."

And about the impact of sanctions, oil minister said it was "influenced, which is not a moral being to prevent the export of any oil products from Syria, and hope of finding alternative solutions," noting that "the country’s needs of oil derivatives, secured between domestic production and import, but the suffering remain in export surplus of crude oil to world markets. "

The European markets before the imposition of sanctions, the main partner of the General Petroleum Corporation , accounting for imports of the Union 3.1 billion euros last year, according to European sources, and imported Europe 95% of Syria’s oil in 2010 were distributed to Germany 32% Italy 31% France 11%, Netherlands 9% .

Allaw said, on Thursday, that It had been signed three contracts for the export of large quantities of oil begin implementation during the next month, without explaining those that have been signed with them, as the ministry announced earlier in the signing of contracts with Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran to export oil

The ministry since last March offered an international tender for the work of prospecting, exploration and exploitation of oil and gas resources in the 3 sectors in the territorial waters in the Mediterranean, and the General GPC began last July to receive technical data and access to maritime contracts implemented by other countries as a prelude to the preparation conditions book art commercial and legal.

The modern scientific studies pointed to a huge oil discovery in the Mediterranean basin estimated reserves by 122 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 107 billion barrels of oil.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Oil, Syria’s oil production fell from 600 thousand barrels per day in 1996 to 400 thousand in 2006 and 387 thousand currently,

al-Hayat Newspaper

The oil minister said during a press conference held today in the oil ministry .. there were discussions with more than 50 companies and merchant and is interested to reach agreements on the export of additional quantities of Syrian oil despite U.S. and European inhuman sanctions on the import of Syrian oil, referring to the presence of delegations currently in Syria to discuss this topic.

The minister pointed to the existence of some difficulties, which the Ministry seeks to overcome facing the export process towards the transfer of oil tankers and to secure the opening the financial credits, insurance and reinsurance on these carriers.

Allaw added that the production of Syria’s oil before the ban of EU and the U.S., Syrian oil exports was 385 thousand barrels per day 245 thousand barrels of which refined in the refineries of Homs and Banias, and exported 140 thousand barrels pointing out that the Ministry of Oil has reduced the production of national companies and companies operating in Syria as a result of the ban and will increase production with the start of the implementation of the oil export contracts that were signed.

Allaw said during the parliament session that the Ministry of Oil has created alternative markets and soon will begin work on export of crude oil and that the ministry is about to sign contracts for export to some friendly countries, where contracts are under consideration to Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran, and this issue is being discussed with Russia, China and India, indicating that the ministry is still looking for other markets because during the last period Syria was depending on European markets, saying that the search for alternative markets needs time.

Allaw stressed that EU Oil Sanction was applied on Syria since the date of issuance in the second of last September, pointing out that the talks about the application will start with the middle of next November which is the date of the end of the last contracts signed with the European countries, is incorrect because the sanctions had been implemented since then, describing talk about implementing it in November is nonsense because contracts stopped before the issuance of the decision and sanctions, including purchase, transportation and cargo insurance and reinsurance as well.

He underlined that there is no shortage in the fuel, adding "this important material is available in the markets during the current winter, and there is no intention to increase the fuel price." Pointing out that the Ministry provide Fuel Stations since the beginning of the year to the end of last month with increase by 10% from the same period and with increase of 12% in last September from the distributed quantity in the same month in last year and by 15% up till now of the current month in compare with the same month of last year asking people not to buy excessive quantities and store it because it is available.

The Minister expected that Fuel consumption this year will be by 7.3 billion liter referring to intensive efforts to find a new mechanism for realizing justice in giving subsidies to those who deserve saying that the price difference with neighboring countries led to increased smuggling phenomenon and that the government is intensifying its efforts to combat and prevent this phenomenon.

The minister pointed to the new mechanism, which are traded in the provision of transport fuel through the smart card at a specified price, indicating that it will dispense vouchers diesel and gasoline for government cars early next year and replace the smart card shipped to the specified amount that the companies are currently working to modify pumps and installation of reader of these cards where there will be 120 stations equipped for this purpose are distributed in all major cities and will increase gradually until it covers all petrol stations in the country.

He pointed out that the ministry proceeded to the distribution of Green diesel for being a friend of the environment and quality of the best means of transportation in addition to its contribution in reducing the demand for diesel Red allocated for the purposes of heating, indicating the presence of 450 stations from the original 1200 station provided with this kind of fuel oil in all provinces.

Syria-oil

The minister pointed that the Oil Ministry also remains in the phase of the search for other alternative markets pointing out that the recent European sanctions on the Syrian oil would not be a major obstacle, although we were not accustomed to it, «as it is during the last period was the dependence on European markets and the search for alternative markets need certain time, and now we can say that we find alternatives and the means and multiple mechanisms for export our crude oil to states and alternative markets ».

Allaw added that Syria has created alternative markets and soon will begin work in the export of crude oil to these markets, and said: «We are fine and we will continue our work without any troubles , we have overcome the issue and we will return to the pace of export well to new markets of friendly countries we and we will continue our work», revealing that contracts are being signed now in order to export crude oil to some friendly countries and companies.

the Minister said that the government took some actions at the domestic side like raising the refineries capacities to the maximum and shorten the required duration of time for the maintenance performance work efficiently.

In the same context, the oil minister said that the sanctions applied on Syria since the date of issuance in the second of last September, pointing out that the talks about the application will start with the middle of next November which is the date of the end of the last contracts signed with the European countries, is incorrect because the sanctions had been implemented since then, describing talk about implementing it in November is nonsense because contracts stopped before the issuance of the decision and sanctions, including purchase, transportation and cargo insurance and reinsurance as well.

The minister pointed out that even if there were signed contracts there was no signed transportation contracts, and even if there were contracts of carriage signed there was no insurance contracts signed those contracts, and therefore all shipments signed for the benefit of Europeans stopped before the European decision, and did not ship any thing to the ports or European companies and talk about November 15, 2011, inter void sentence even before the issuance of the decision.

In response to a question on the progress of the UAE company «Dana Gas» to compete for entry into the Syrian market Minister of Oil said that Syria welcomed that at all levels and trends for any company or entity is willing to work in the oil sector in Syria and will have all facilities.

The media sources said last week that the largest Arab company specializing in investment in gas «Dana Gas» compete with 7 companies to enter the Syrian market as part of its plans to enter new regional markets.

The chief executive of the company «Dana Gas» Ahmed Arbeed said in a press statement that the company continues its negotiations to enter the Syrian market, pointing out that Syria is one of the important countries for the company due to its geographical location

al-Watan Newspaper

The new European sanctions went into effect and included the prohibition of new foreign investments in the oil sector, and before that the EU – which buys Syrian oil exports all about – ban the Syrian oil imports, but still allow the export of fuel to Syria.

The source added: that the ban will have negatively impact on European investors and their companies and their interests and that European companies lose great opportunities so if they decide to get out of Syria, saying at the same time that the oil industry will not suffer as a result of tight Western sanctions as long as it is able to meet the local needs of the energy .

The Director-General of the General Petroleum Syrian Corporation Eng. Ali Abbas said in an earlier statement that the exit of European companies from country will have negative affect on them , these companies will lose and did not compensate pointed out that Shell and Total will not be happy in the case of they were pushed to get out of Syria in particular that their investments , operations and revenues and their experts, their presence in the country to achieve the conditions of investment in return Syria achieved interests of their presence and any defects will annoy both sides in the future ..

organizers of the oil sector currently looking for buyers for some 110 thousand to 150 thousand barrels per day of crude was exported to about 95% to Europe and hopes the largest producer of oil in the world, Russia and China, to buy some of the major importer.

large Chinese with enormous oil and gas companies work with potential supplies are a key element in China’s oil and gas industry operating in the Syrian drilling fields and production units, pumps, pipes and packaging tubes, .

New oil strategy at the current stage go towards improving the performance through terms of negotiation with companies to attract investment and drop bureaucratic and communication with the East, both Russia or China or East Asian countries and open markets for multinational companies to maintain the stability, competitiveness and sustainability of activity away from any international outside pressure.

the production of crude oil amounted last year to 385 thousand barrels per day, or about 0.5 percent of global production of reserves estimated at 2.5 billion barrels, the end of 2010, or about 0.2% of world reserves,

most of known oil reserves are at east of the country near the border with Iraq and there are some small fields in the center of the country, and SPC has worked past two years to open new fields to compensate for the depletion of oil and there is now two oil refineries and three oil terminals along the production of large quantities of natural gas reached 7.8 billion cubic meters in 2010, ie 0.2% of the total world production.

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He said in a press statement: «These companies will continue to work in the field of exploration, but the problem remains in the export, and we await its final decision with the end of the week». He expressed his fear that Syria imports of derivatives such as diesel oil, gasoline, fuel oil and other imports may be affected as Damascus at least 75 percent of its need in the absence of the ability of local refineries. He expected obstacles of importing oil derivatives to start in the coming period by insurance companies on the global shipments to Syria

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Official figures show that the production of Syria is more than 387 thousand barrels per day, which produces some of them by «General Petroleum Corporation» that reach about 200 thousand. The figures that refineries «Homs» (central of Syria ), and «Banias» (on the coast), are capable of processing about 245 thousand barrels per day, and to reiterate that about four million tons of fuel oil, while consumption was estimated at about 6.5 million tons, and to reiterate that some 80 percent of the country’s gasoline needs.

Energy expert Dr. Ziad Arbash Said in a statement: The impact of European sanctions on the oil sector in Syria is relatively simple, because the international market is open in front of us.

Arbash added : Syria will not be affected by the European and U.S sanctions on oil sector, because the international market is open to Syria’s oil production of, as it can eastward because of our exports of crude oil is linked third-specific, it is possible that some Western companies violating the embargo, noting that Iran was not affected by the sanctions imposed on that side.

The reports showed that Syria relies on about 28 percent of their income on oil revenues, and Europe to buy about 95 percent of its exports.