A technical document (Gas Quality Specifications) obtained by the Shadow Government - Zaman al-Wasl revealed that the gas supplied to Syria from Azerbaijan via Turkey does not fully meet the technical requirements for operating old Syrian gas turbines.
The document refers to it as "associated gas," meaning it is less pure than the gas required for power generation plants, threatening operational efficiency.
Key points in the document:
- Variation in chemical composition: Variations were observed in the components of the gas mixture (methane, ethane, propane, and butane) and in the ratios required to operate the turbines.
- Negative operational impacts: This variation directly impacts the turbine's output, preventing it from achieving the desired production capacity. It also leads to incomplete combustion and an increase in exhaust temperature, which could lead to forced shutdowns later.
Implications for the Electricity Sector:
Technical sources have warned that non-compliance with specifications could mean the following:
- Reduced production efficiency: The turbines will not be able to operate at their full design capacity, thus failing to achieve the expected increase in electricity production.
- Accelerated deterioration and malfunctions: Non-compliant gas may exacerbate the corrosion of the internal parts of the turbines, which are already suffering from aging and wear, exacerbating the maintenance crisis and raising operating costs.
Doubts about the feasibility of the deal:
This discrepancy in specifications raises serious questions about the economic and technical feasibility of the concluded deal, especially since the stated goal of increasing electricity supply hours may not be fully or sustainably achieved. This development poses a challenge to the government in fulfilling its promises related to improving the electricity situation.
The Syrian Gas Company's Position:
It is worth noting that the director of the Syrian Gas Company, Youssef Youssef, had previously stated that the gas specifications were compliant and accused Zaman al-Wasl of unprofessionalism. However, this document confirms the existence of a defect in the specifications. It is questionable whether the Director General was aware of this discrepancy. It is worth noting that this agreement was reached in early March, under the supervision of Engineer Riad Jubasi, the current Deputy Director of the Oil Department.
Framework of the deal:
The Syrian government agreed to import Azerbaijani gas as part of regional agreements (with Qatari funding and Turkish facilitation), in an attempt to address the severe shortage of domestic gas needed to operate power plants. While the partial increase in electricity supply hours is welcome, the paper emphasizes that this regional solution may not be the most technically appropriate for the aging infrastructure of the Syrian energy sector.
Zaman Al Wasl
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