The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $146 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) to support the restoration of electricity services in Syria, aiming to boost energy access and facilitate economic recovery across the country.
The funding will support the Syria Electricity Emergency Project (SEEP), designed to rehabilitate critical components of the country’s electricity transmission infrastructure.
The project will restore high-voltage transmission lines and transformer substations damaged during years of conflict, and will provide technical assistance to strengthen institutional capacity and guide long-term reforms in the electricity sector.
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Critical infrastructure in ruins
Years of armed conflict have left Syria’s national electricity grid in a state of severe disrepair, reducing power availability to just 2–4 hours per day in many areas. This has placed intense strain on key sectors such as water, healthcare, agriculture, and housing.
The transmission and distribution network suffers from high losses, while key infrastructure has been either destroyed or left non-functional.
A lack of maintenance, spare parts, and investment has worsened the deterioration, resulting in a fragile and unreliable grid prone to frequent outages.
SEEP program
Under SEEP, two strategic 400 kV high-voltage interconnector transmission lines will be rehabilitated, helping to restore regional connectivity with Jordan and Türkiye.
The project will also repair key high-voltage transformer substations near high-demand urban centers, including areas with large populations of returning refugees and internally displaced people. Additional support will include spare parts, maintenance equipment, and institutional capacity building.
World Bank/IDA support to Syria
“Among Syria’s urgent reconstruction needs, rehabilitating the electricity sector has emerged as a critical, no-regret investment that can improve the living conditions of the Syrian people, support the return of refugees and the internally displaced, enable resumption of other services such as water services and healthcare for the population and help kickstart economic recovery”, said Jean-Christophe Carret, World Bank Middle East division director.
“This project represents the first step in a planned increase in World Bank/IDA support to Syria on its path to recovery and development.”
In parallel, the project will deliver technical assistance to help shape Syria’s electricity sector strategy, regulatory framework, and investment roadmap for medium- to long-term sustainability.
Capacity-building efforts will support institutional reforms and improve the electricity sector’s operational performance.
“Electricity is a foundational investment for economic progress, service delivery and livelihoods,” said H.E. Yisr Barnieh, Syrian Minister of Finance.
“This is the first World Bank project in Syria in almost four decades. We hope it will lay the ground for a comprehensive and structured support program to help Syria on its path to recovery and long-term development.”
Project implementation
The Public Establishment for Transmission and Distribution of Electricity (PETDE) will oversee implementation of the project.
SEEP will complement ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the sector, including PETDE’s existing distribution network restoration activities and parallel support from development partners focused on fuel supply and electricity generation.
An international consulting firm will be engaged to serve as PETDE’s owner engineer, providing engineering, project management, site supervision, and financial oversight services.
In addition, the World Bank will appoint a third-party monitoring agent to strengthen fiduciary and environmental and social safeguards monitoring. The bank will also deliver enhanced hands-on implementation support to help build capacity and ensure compliance with international standards.
The project represents a critical step toward stabilizing Syria’s electricity supply and rebuilding vital infrastructure to support economic revitalization and improved living conditions for millions affected by the conflict.
