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The Syria Petroleum Company (SPC) has signed a development contract with the USA’s ConocoPhillips and Novaterra Energy to develop a number of gas fields in Syria and increase production from existing fields, to boost the supply of urgently needed gas for the electricity and other key sectors

The contract follows an MoU signed seven months ago and a series of technical, legal and commercial meetings and discussions focused on preparing studies and formulating the executive frameworks of the project.

The project aims to increase gas production from the targeted fields and develop their operational infrastructure in line with the latest technical standards, while supporting plans to develop the energy sector and attract international expertise and investment to contribute to the rehabilitation and development of the sector’s infrastructure. Years of civil war and sanctions have seen the country’s domestic natural gas production plummet to around 3 bcm in 2023 from 8.7bcm in 2011, according to Reuters. Syria’s power generation sector is short of reliable gas supply, with existing production meeting less than half of current demand and necessitating gas imports. 

Minister of Energy Eng Mohammed Al-Bashir confirmed that the contract represents an important milestone in the development of Syria’s energy sector, enhancing natural gas production, supporting the electricity system and accelerating economic recovery efforts.

Yousef Qiblawy, president and chief executive officer of SPC stated that the contract marks an important step in the development of the gas sector and reflects the confidence of international partners in the investment opportunities available in the country. He stressed that the project will contribute to increasing production, improving operational efficiency and supporting energy security.

“Through this partnership, we look forward to accelerating the development of existing gas fields and exploring new opportunities in a way that supports energy security and strengthens the sector’s ability to meet development needs in the coming phase,” he said.

Officials from ConocoPhillips and Novaterra also expressed their commitment to leveraging their technical and operational expertise and applying the latest global technologies to contribute to the development of gas fields and accelerate production in cooperation with Syrian national teams.

In a bid to attract foreign investment into the oil and gas sector, the Syrian government has signed agreements with a number of international and regional companies to assess and develop its oil and gas fields including Chevron, QatarEnergy, TotalEnergies and Dana Gas.

The lifting of sanctions on Syria last year opened the way for US companies to do business with the new government. ConocoPhillips was present in Syria before the civil war. In May, it signed a deal with Total Energies, QatarEnergy and the Syria Petroleum Company to launch a technical review of offshore Block 3. Novaterra specialises in restoring and developing oil natural gas resources in challenging environments. It aims to expand Syria’s oil production and gas supply for power generation by restoring production from existing fields, bringing on-stream discovered accumulations and exploring for and developing further resources.

In the push to restore production capacity, efforts are ongoing to return oilfields to service and increase operational readiness through technical upgrades and maintenance work. Syria’s Ministry of Energy has completed the rehabilitation of five oil wells in the al-Bishri field in the country’s central region. The work was carried out by SPC using its in-house technical expertise and operational resources. SPC is continuing work on the remaining stages of the project.

The seven OPEC+ countries, which previously announced additional voluntary adjustments in April and November 2023, namely Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman, have agreed to increase production by 188,000 bpd from July

However, the impact of this increased production quota is likely to be limited, according to Jorge Leon, head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy

“With the Strait of Hormuz closed, the issue is not whether OPEC+ raises paper quotas, but whether additional barrels can actually reach the market,” he said.

“OPEC+’s decision to continue increasing production by 188,000 barrels per day confirms that the group remains on track to unwind the first tranche of voluntary cuts by September, if not earlier. But in the current market, the physical impact of such a decision would be close to zero.”

Leon noted that not only is the Gulf facing oil export obstacles, Russia is also under pressure as a result of intensifying drone attacks on its oil infrastructure.

“The latest increase will likely expose a widening gap between OPEC+ targets and Russia’s actual production capacity,” he said.

“The more important question is what happens after the first tranche of voluntary cuts has been fully unwound. The capacity assessment currently undergoing should serve as the basis for 2027 quotas, but with the Strait of Hormuz closed and several producers operating far below normal levels, it will be very difficult to accurately assess each country’s sustainable production capacity. That makes the next quota reset much more politically sensitive.”

Once the Strait of Hormuz reopens and flows gradually recover, the market could face a very large surplus, he pointed out, driven by returning OPEC+ supply, stronger US shale output and weaker demand after a period of very high oil prices. The UAE, now free from its OPEC quotas, would also likely ramp up production.

Once restocking concludes, OPEC+ may be forced to implement cuts again.

“That is when cohesion will become the central issue. OPEC+ cohesion is easy to maintain when the market does the discipline for you. The real test is whether that holds when the barrels come back, stocks rebuild and members have to decide who cuts.”

At the moment though, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz seems a distant prospect, given the resumption of hostilities between Israel and Iran, which has caused the oil price to spike again.

“Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, markets remain concerned that even a peace agreement would not immediately restore normal energy flows due to damaged infrastructure, mined waterways, and production outages,” commented MUFG Bank, echoing other industry analysts. “The renewed escalation has reinforced fears of prolonged supply disruptions, keeping upward pressure on oil prices despite OPEC+ plans to gradually increase output.”

TA’ZIZ, a joint venture between ADNOC and ADQ, has signed long-term agreements spanning offtake, feedstock and sales across its chemicals portfolio, valued at US$28.5bn (AED104.6bn)

Signed at the Make it in the Emirates Forum, the agreements, valued at US$28.5bn, secure both global offtake and reliable local feedstocks, allowing for large-scale chemical production within the UAE and reinforcing TA’ZIZ’s role in building a fully integrated domestic chemicals ecosystem. The deals include sale agreements with ADNOC and Proman for methanol; Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) for caustic soda; Mitsubishi Corporation for ethylene dichloride (EDC), vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and caustic soda; Mitsui & Co. for EDC and caustic soda; Sanmar Group for EDC and VCM; Tricon for PVC, EDC and caustic soda; and Vinmar for EDC and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

ADNOC Gas secured a 25-year feedstock agreement to supply natural gas to the TA'ZIZ methanol project valued at over $5 billion (AED18.4 billion). TA’ZIZ also agreed a 20 year salt supply agreement with Abu Dhabi based Sama Salt to support production at its PVC complex.

Mashal Saoud Al-Kindi, CEO of TA’ZIZ, said, “These long term agreements represent a defining milestone for TA’ZIZ and for the UAE’s industrial growth ambitions. By securing both global demand and reliable local feedstock, we are translating vision into delivery, anchoring world scale chemicals production, strengthening domestic value chains and creating enduring economic value, jobs and supply chain resilience for the UAE.”

Together, these agreements leverage local resources to secure a reliable and sustainable supply of critical raw materials, further strengthening domestic value chains and advancing the UAE’s industrial self sufficiency.

TA’ZIZ is a manufacturing, industrial services, logistics and utilities ecosystem that enables the production of transition fuels and new products across the chemicals value chain, supporting ADNOC’s ambition to become a top three global chemicals player as well as the UAE’s industrial development and economic diversification ambitions.

The TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone is set to produce 4.7 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of chemicals once construction is completed in 2028. This includes a 1 mtpa ammonia plant, a 1.8 mtpa methanol plant and 1.9 mtpa of marketable products from its integrated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) complex. The PVC complex, which produces PVC, ethylene dichloride (EDC), vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), and caustic soda, will be one of the world’s top three largest single site PVC complexes.

Also at the Make it at the Emirates Forum, TA’ZIZ and Alpha Dhabi Holding announced a strategic collaboration agreement for around US$10 bn (AED36.7bn) in capital investment in new industrial chemicals in the TA’ZIZ industrial chemicals ecosystem in Al Ruwais Industrial City, Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi.

The partnership could produce up to 14 new chemicals, delivering around 2.2mn tonnes per annum (mtpa) of additional chemical capacity in the TA’ZIZ industrial chemicals ecosystem in Al Ruwais Industrial City. The new chemicals, which include styrene and polystyrenes, acrylic acid and derivates, polyols, MDI, epoxy resins and linear alpha-olefins, are based on domestic demand and could substitute key products currently imported into the UAE, while strengthening local supply chain resilience. The partnership supports the UAE’s national industrial priorities, including the Make it in the Emirates (MIITE) initiative and the country’s industrial strategy, by strengthening domestic manufacturing capability and advancing self-sufficiency in strategically important chemical products.

Petrofibre Arabia Equipment Company Ltd., the first Saudi manufacturer specialising in advanced fibre optic monitoring systems, will host a live technology showcase on 16–17 June 2026, demonstrating Saudi-made solutions designed to strengthen pipeline integrity, infrastructure security, and operational reliability across the energy sector

The event will feature live demonstrations of FibreLeak™, Petrofibre Arabia’s Pipeline Leak Detection System (PLDS), which uses distributed temperature sensing, and FibreGuard™, its Intrusion Detection System (IDS), which uses distributed acoustic sensing. Both are developed to provide continuous real-time monitoring of critical assets using Distributed Fibre Optic Sensing technologies.

The showcase will bring together asset owners, EPC contractors, engineering consultants, industrial operators, and technology specialists from across Saudi Arabia to experience the practical application of locally manufactured monitoring solutions for pipelines, industrial facilities, and critical infrastructure.

Headquartered in Al Khobar, Petrofibre Arabia designs, manufactures, installs, and supports advanced fibre optic monitoring systems serving the oil and gas, petrochemical, utilities, industrial, and infrastructure sectors. The company provides complete lifecycle support including engineering, system design, commissioning, training, and long-term maintenance services.

FibreLeak™ enables operators to detect and locate potential leaks at an early stage, helping reduce environmental risks, product losses, and operational disruptions. FibreGuard™ provides continuous monitoring of pipeline corridors and critical infrastructure by identifying unauthorized activities, third-party interference, and potential security threats before they develop into major incidents.

As part of Saudi Arabia’s industrial transformation, Petrofibre Arabia is contributing to the localisation of advanced monitoring technologies traditionally supplied from international markets. The company is approved within Saudi Aramco’s supplier ecosystem and has achieved Saudi Aramco Plant Number and 9COM registration, reinforcing its commitment to quality, compliance, and local manufacturing excellence.

The technology showcase reflects the company’s broader vision of positioning Saudi Arabia as a regional centre for intelligent infrastructure monitoring technologies while supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 through innovation, industrial localisation, and the development of nationally manufactured high-value technologies.

By combining advanced fibre optic sensing capabilities with local engineering expertise, Petrofibre Arabia continues to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s ability to protect critical infrastructure, improve asset integrity, and support safer, smarter, and more sustainable operations across the Kingdom and beyond.

For more information, visit www.petrofibrearabia.com

How do complacency and human factors contribute to workplace injuries, and how can you prevent complacency-related injuries and incidents?

That is the subject of a webinar hosted by HSE Review in association with SafeStart, to take place on Wednesday 1st April 2026 at 2pm GST, which will shine a light on the neuroscience behind competence, complacency and human factors.

Safety professionals have known for years that “complacency is a silent killer.” They have also suspected that complacency was a contributing factor in almost every unintentional injury or incident. Unfortunately, from a neuroscience perspective, it is impossible to stop people from becoming complacent once they are competent. And for high-risks tasks in particular, competence is a must.

Even more unfortunately, many (most) companies do not know what to do to help their employees deal with complacency, which leads to mind not on task/risk.

In this session, participants will:
• Understand the neuroscience behind complacency and why it cannot be eliminated once competence is achieved
• Recognise the two stages of the complacency continuum and how human factors impact critical decision-making
• Learn practical skills to prevent complacency-related injuries, including attentive habits, looking for risk patterns in others, analysing close calls and small errors to prevent agonising over large ones, and using self-triggering skills, to deal with rushing, frustration and fatigue which, when combined with complacency, can cause fatalities
• Explore how concepts such as fail-safe can help compensate for complacency leading to mind not on task.

Register for the webinar here

Our speaker is Larry Wilson, a pioneer in the area of Human Factors in safety. He has been a safety consultant for over 25 years and has worked on-site with hundreds of companies worldwide. Larry is the author of SafeStart, an advanced safety and performance awareness programme, successfully implemented in more than 4,500 companies in 75 countries, with more than five million people trained. He is the moderator of the SafeConnection expert panels series and has authored and co-authored a number of books, the latest being “25 Years of Original Thought-Innovations in Safety, Human Error and Performance”. Larry is also an active keynote speaker at health and safety conferences around the globe (32 countries so far).

Participants are guaranteed an hour of engaging and thought-provoking interactive discussion and debate and will take away the understanding, skills and strategies to help prevent complacency-related injuries and incidents.

So don’t delay, register for the webinar here

SafeStart Trainer Certification – Global Training Series

Following strong demand last year and impact across global markets, we’re also launching the SafeStart Trainer Certification – Global Training Series, starting with Dubai on 7–8 April 2026.

This is a practical, human factors–based certification designed to help organisations reduce incidents, strengthen decision-making, and improve overall safety performance, on and off the job.

Find out more information and register here:

The global hydrogen economy is evolving and is entering a new inflection point in 2026 amid shifting market realities, policy uncertainties and execution challenges

That’s according to Hydrogen in Oil and Gas, a new report from leading intelligence platform GlobalData, which reveals that as of February 2026, active low-carbon hydrogen capacity stood at around 2.2 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), with over 460 projects in operation, compared to 104 in 2020. However, demand uncertainty and limited investment are barriers constraining the development of new low-carbon hydrogen projects, particularly in North America, where policy change has negatively impacted certain high-profile projects.

GlobalData projects that global hydrogen production capacity could reach 82.3 mtpa by 2030, taking into account the active under development projects, but around 57% of projects due to start by then are still at the feasibility stage, and are unlikely to be commissioned on schedule.

Ravindra Puranik, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, commented, “Despite an impressive increase in count of active low-carbon hydrogen projects, capacity additions remain far below the levels needed to meet the near-term targets set by the IEA Net Zero Emissions (NZE) scenario.”

GlobalData notes the scarcity of large-scale projects, with only 10 of the 2,335 upcoming projects worldwide having capacities exceeding 1 mtpa and a few others touching the 0.5 mtpa mark. Among the 10 high-capacity projects, nine are for green hydrogen, and one is for blue hydrogen.

Puranik continues: “Despite accounting for the bulk of the project numbers, the cumulative capacity of green hydrogen initiatives remains relatively modest. Thus, their output is not large enough to displace established energy sources, such as natural gas or utility-scale renewables. Developers face significant challenges in scaling up, including overcoming infrastructure constraints, securing long-term offtake agreements, and ensuring financial viability. Until more large-scale progress through the development pipeline, hydrogen’s share in the global energy mix will likely remain constrained.”

“Looking ahead to 2030, global low-carbon hydrogen capacity is expected to expand once demand picks up, backed by increased private investment and supportive policy frameworks, as it is a critical energy source to achieve corporate net-zero commitments. Nevertheless, achieving these ambitions will require overcoming persistent financial, regulatory, and infrastructure barriers in the near term to ensure that project announcements translate into operational capacity by the end of the decade.”

Among oil and gas majors, BP leads in green hydrogen, with nearly 3 mtpa of active and upcoming capacity with projects in Mauritania, Australia, and across Europe. TotalEnergies has also increased its focus on green hydrogen projects, alongside industrial gas leaders like Air Liquide and Air Products. Meanwhile, Shell and Equinor are expected to lead in blue hydrogen capacity by 2030.

Middle East developments

As for the Middle East, DNV forecasts that region is on track to become the biggest hydrogen exporter by 2060 — not only sustaining its share of global hydrocarbon supply but potentially expanding it. By 2060, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is projected to produce 19 million tonnes of hydrogen annually, alongside significant growth in ammonia exports, DNV’s Oil & Gas Decarbonisation in the Gulf Region report says. Integrating hydrogen production with CCUS, renewables and existing industrial clusters will enable “cost-competitive pathways” that support decarbonisation across domestic and international value chains, DNV adds.

Currently, hydrogen demand in the GCC is driven almost entirely by its role as an industrial feedstock, but it is now evolving to a strategic energy carrier. Despite this transformation, hydrogen and its derivatives are projected to contribute just 3.1% of the region’s total final energy consumption by 2060 – well below the global average of 6%, according to DNV, reflecting both the region’s slower initial update of hydrogen and its abundant low-cost fossil fuel resources.

See more on DNV’s Oil & Gas Decarbonisation in the Gulf Region report in the latest issue of Oil Review Middle East here