Syria Breaks Ground on Major Gas Power Plant

Syria has begun construction on a large new gas-fired power plant in its eastern Deir Ezzor province. The country's Minister of Energy, Mohammad al-Bashir, laid the foundation stone for the project on Tuesday. The plant will be built at the al-Taym oil field. Officials plan for it to have a generating capacity of 1,000 megawatts. The ceremony included the CEO of UCC Holding, Marwan al-Dimas, and Deir Ezzor Governor Ghassan al-Ahmad. The project aims to increase Syria's domestic electricity production. A reliable power supply is a critical need for reconstruction and economic activity.