Syria's oil refining system has a combined capacity of 240,000
b/d. It consists of two plants, one in Banias with a capacity of 130,000
b/d and another in Homs with a capacity of 110,000 b/d. Both refineries
are being upgraded under projects considered for years.
For the past four years, their throughput has been averaging
240,000 b/d, due to rising domestic demand. In the previous years their
combined throughput used to be about 200,000 b/d (see their detailed
profiles and background in Vol. 58, DT No. 15).
Foreign oil companies present in Syria have already shown interest
in setting-up gasoline retail network including Shell. Regulatory
restrictions, such as the monopoly on distribution of Mahruqat, a
state-owned marketing company, and the fixed price of gasoline, have
been among the obstacles to invest in the sector.
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