How the Increase in Electricity Supply Hours Affected the Lives of Syrians in Damascus and Its Countryside?

SadaNews - Residents of the capital Damascus and its countryside have noticed a remarkable improvement in the electricity supply program following the announcement by Syrian Minister of Energy Mohammed Bashar about the increase in electricity supply hours to 8 hours daily instead of 4 in all provinces. This is in accordance with a ministerial plan aimed at improving distribution and enhancing service efficiency.

The minister stated, in a statement to the Syrian News Agency (SANA) last Monday, that this decision came in light of the arrival of quantities of Azerbaijani gas through Turkish territory to power plants, which contributed to an increase in the amount of electricity produced and improved the operational capacity of several plants that had been stopped or partially operating during the past period. He confirmed that the ministry is continuing its efforts in coordination with the relevant authorities to ensure the stability of the electricity situation and achieve further improvements, calling on citizens to "rationalize electricity consumption and contribute to supporting network stability".

This increase comes after years of suffering endured by the Syrians due to a decline in electricity supply to unprecedented levels, as some areas in Damascus and its countryside experienced lengthy outages of up to 22 hours daily, negatively impacting the lives of the residents and forcing them to seek expensive alternatives.

Impact on Professions

The recent increase in electricity supply hours has made a significant difference for craftsmen and tradespeople who rely directly on electricity, such as tailors, dyers, barbers, small bakery owners, and workshop workers.

All of these individuals found the extra hours a relief to complete their work at a lower cost and faster time compared to almost complete reliance on generators.

Oss Madhour (42 years old), owner of a laundry in the Qaimariyah neighborhood of Damascus, states that his work primarily depends on electricity to run washing machines, irons, and dryers. He adds: "One hour of supply is not enough for a complete washing cycle, which forced me to rely on the generator or delay my customers". He explains that the small generator was unable to operate the large washing machines, which compelled him to wake up at dawn to benefit from a nighttime electricity supply hour.

Oss points out that the costs of the generator forced him to raise his service prices, losing some customers, "but now I will lower prices after the increase in supply hours, as I no longer have to rely heavily on the generator". However, he feels that "two hours of supply every six hours are still not sufficient, especially during wedding seasons", hoping that the supply will increase to 12 or 16 hours daily.

Meanwhile, Rana Al-Naim (27 years old), owner of a women's hair salon in Jaramana, Rural Damascus, confirms that her work was almost entirely dependent on the generator: "One hour of supply barely suffices to finish a hairstyle, and it often includes interruptions that damage electrical equipment". She states that the recent improvement has given her "financial and psychological relief" after reducing costs, noting that any additional minute of electricity "makes a difference" in her profession.

Impact on Families

The increase has also had an impact on the lives of families and housewives in Damascus and its countryside. Fatima Al-Namour, a housewife from the Douailah neighborhood, says she is now able to complete more tasks during supply hours, such as washing, cooking, and running the electric heater, after she previously had to choose between them.

She adds, "The washing machine can now complete a full cycle without me waiting an entire day, and I can use the electric oven and iron clothes, which was almost impossible before".

As for Abeer Al-Idlibi from the Mazzeh neighborhood in Damascus, she explains that she can now organize her daily tasks according to the new program: "Two hours of supply are sufficient to fill the water tank, complete a washing load, cool the house with the air conditioner, and even store food in the fridge has become reasonable now".

History of the Crisis

Syria has been suffering from a severe electricity crisis for over a decade, as most power stations and transmission lines have been damaged due to the war, and local gas production has significantly declined. Fuel imports have fallen from about 15,000 tons in 2011 to around 1,200 tons only in 2024.

This sharp decline in resources, along with the collapse of infrastructure, has led to a reduction in electricity supply hours in most areas to two or four hours daily at best, which has directly impacted the livelihood of Syrians, forcing them to rely heavily on private generators, batteries, and candles.

Other Challenged Services

Despite the partial relief in the electricity sector, residents of Damascus and its countryside still suffer from a severe water crisis due to deteriorated infrastructure resulting from years of war, reduced rainfall rates, and increased demand after the return of displaced persons. The capital and its countryside rely on the Fijeh spring as a primary water source, but its levels are declining sharply, leading to lengthy outages and forcing residents to buy water from private tankers at high prices.

The internet service situation is no different from other services, as recent estimates indicate that fixed-line internet speeds in Syria do not exceed 4.6 megabits per second, while the average mobile internet speed does not exceed 12 megabits, placing the country at the bottom of global rankings.

The recent increase in electricity hours has provided Syrians with a glimmer of hope and has positively reflected on the details of their daily lives, from tradespeople to families and housewives. However, the question remains: is this increase temporary, linked to Azerbaijani gas imports, or a beginning of sustainable change that restores confidence in the energy sector in Syria?

Source: Al Jazeera