Expert highlights Syrian gas exploration deal with Russia

Translation by Yusra Ahmed

(EQTSAD)- Oil expert and former Deputy Minister of Petroleum highlighted many aspects related to the gas deal with Russian vioos Nafta company to excavate in the Syrian coast.

Abdo Hossam Eddin said the contract was made consensually with compliance for Russia, adding that the leaked document was sort of justification and procedures must be done, in order to give the Russian company the agreement to search and drill for gas in the Coastal region.

Hosam Eddin, who defected from the Syrian regime in 2012, said that Russia wants to control the gas in countries to the East of the Mediterranean Sea, and it plans to monopolize Gas of the world.

The document that Zaman al-Wasl obtained and published showed that the bidding for drilling and extracting gas was not attractive to any international first-ranked company in petroleum industry for 9 months till the deadline. Moreover, Vioos Nafta Gas applied for the bid days after the deadline, and it was not found qualified and had the ability for drilling and extracting Gas from under the sea till two months before signing the contract.

Hosam Eddin explained reasons for not signing a contract with some of Russian mega-gas Companies saying: “despite Vioos Nafta Gas is a medium-ranked gas drilling company, but it is owned by the Russian central bank, therefore, the contract in reality is made with the Russian government, the contract is compliant and aimed to satisfy Russia”

Hosam Eddin was not sure of the exact amount of Gas in the coastal region. He added that tender to drill gas did not attract any company because of problems in sea boarders with surrounding countries, and the high cost of drilling gas from under the sea, while outcomes are not guaranteed. "The estimate cost of one exploratory oil well reaches to $.150 Million".

The former assistant of the minister of petroleum was surprised from the total cost of $.100 Million for all drilling and extracting job as mentioned by the Minister of Petroleum, but once again he confirmed the political background of the contract with Vioos Nafta Gas.

Hosam Eddin explained that many documents similar to the leaked one are issued by figures responsible for contracting some project with some companies, according to verbal orders from Bashar al-Assad, in this case they legally protect themselves from being the scapegoat later on, and being punished if they sign contracts without official procedures and tenders.