Washington, SANA–The World Bank has approved a grant of $146 million to enhance electricity supply and support economic recovery in Syria.

According to the Bank’s official website, the Board of Executive Directors approved the grant from the International Development Association (IDA) to help Syria restore reliable and affordable electricity services and promote the country’s economic recovery.

The Bank noted that the Syria Emergency Electricity Project aims to rehabilitate damaged transmission lines and electrical substations, and to provide technical assistance to support the development of the electricity sector and institutional capacity building.

Jean-Christophe, the World Bank Country Director for the Middle East Department, described the project as “the first step in the Bank’s broader plan to scale up its support for Syria’s path to recovery and development.” He emphasized that among Syria’s urgent reconstruction needs, rehabilitating the electricity sector stands out as a vital investment to improve living conditions for the Syrian people.

The project will finance the rehabilitation of high-voltage transmission lines, including two major 400-kilovolt interconnection lines. It will also provide technical support for the development of key electricity sector strategies, policy and regulatory reforms, and investment planning to ensure medium- and long-term sustainability.

Nawal /Manar Salameh