Gas pipeline explosion at Tishreen plant near Damascus knocks out three power stations
A gas pipeline blast at Tishreen station near Damascus has halted operations at three major Syrian power plants, causing temporary electricity shortages.
Key Takeaways
AIThe Syrian Electricity Company announced on Wednesday that the Deir Ali, Al-Nasiriya, and Tishreen power stations have gone offline following an explosion on a gas pipeline at the Tishreen plant in the Damascus countryside. The cause of the blast has not yet been determined, resulting in a halt to the gas supplies required to operate the stations.
The company stated via its Telegram channel that specialized teams are responding to the incident. It noted that the shutdown of these stations will temporarily reduce the amount of electricity generated and increase power rationing hours, due to the resulting shortfall in generation capacity. Updates on the status of the stations and electricity supply will be provided as they become available.
Abdul Hamid Salat, director of the media department at the Ministry of Energy, told SANA that specialized teams have managed to close the gas valves and isolate the damaged pipeline at the Tishreen plant.
Salat confirmed that teams are continuing to secure the site and monitor the fire until the remaining gas in the pipeline is depleted after the valves were closed, with the aim of fully extinguishing the blaze and preparing for a technical inspection of the explosion site.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Civil Defense announced that the fire in the gas pipeline at the Tishreen thermal power station near Haran Al-Awamid in eastern rural Damascus has been brought under control, and cooling operations are underway.
The Syrian Civil Defense told SANA that two people were injured in the fire. They received first aid and were transferred to the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed field hospital near the Conference Palace in rural Damascus.
The Deir Ali, Al-Nasiriya, and Tishreen stations are among the main power generation facilities connected to the electricity grid in the Damascus countryside. Their operations depend on fuel supplied through the gas transmission network, making the steady flow of gas essential for maintaining generation readiness and stable electricity output.