Damascus, July 3 (SANA)Syria is advancing development of its silica sector as part of a national strategy to strengthen industrial production, increase the value of itsmineral resourcesand supporteconomic recoverythrough value-added manufacturing.

In statements to the state-owned daily Al-Thawra Al-Souria, Assistant Director General of the General Establishment ofGeology and Mineral Resources(GEGMR) Ammar al-Nasser said the establishment is updating geological studies across several promising sites, particularly in the al-Qaryatayn and al-Hadath areas of Homs countryside, to identify economically recoverable reserves and assess ore quality.

Al-Nasser said the establishment has received several investment proposals for silica-based industries, particularly the production of microsilica and high-purity silica, in line with the government’s strategy of expanding domestic processing instead of exporting raw materials.

He said the memorandum of understanding signed with theSaudicompany Watad Gold to establish a microsilica production facility at the Eastern al-Qaryatayn quarry is completing administrative and licensing procedures, with operations expected to begin within about three months.

The project is expected to generate annual revenue of around USD 10 million during its initial phase, rising to approximately USD 50 million as later stages are completed.

Al-Nasser also referred to a memorandum of understanding withSyria Siliconto develop high-purity silica production at the Western al-Qaryatayn quarry east of Homs. He said the project is undergoing technical testing to verify that the raw material meets specifications required for producing silicon used in photovoltaic technologies and semiconductor manufacturing.

He added that the projects are part of the establishment’s strategy to maximize the economic value of Syria’s mineral resources by expanding domestic processing industries and increasing value-added manufacturing.

Raw silica currently sells for about USD 15 per metric ton, while processed silica products are valued at between USD 65 and USD 100 per metric ton, depending on purity and industrial application, al-Nasser said. He added that silica deposits suitable for industrial investment generally contain silicon dioxide concentrations ranging from 93 percent to 99.9 percent.

Silica, or silicon dioxide (SiO₂), is the principal component of quartz sand and is widely used in the manufacture of glass, cement, high-strength concrete and a range of advanced industrial products. High-purity silica is an essential raw material for producing silicon used in solar photovoltaic cells and semiconductor wafers.

Economic analyst Ziad Wahbi told the newspaper that developing downstream silica and silicon industries would strengthen Syria’s export capacity, increase foreign currency earnings, improve the trade balance and expand higher value-added manufacturing.

He said the long-term strategy envisions an integrated value chain beginning with supplying silica to domestic glass and cement manufacturers, followed by microsilica production and ultimately high-purity silica for silicon manufacturing serving the renewable energy and electronics industries.

Geologist Ahmad al-Khaled told Al-Thawra Al-Souria that geological reserve classifications follow internationally recognized scientific standards, distinguishing between explored reserves, economically recoverable reserves and broader estimated national resources.

According to GEGMR studies, explored reserves in the al-Qaryatayn and Qalamoun regions, classified under the B and C2 reserve categories, total about 300 million metric tons.

Published geological studies also indicate that the al-Rmeileh deposit contains around 200 million metric tons of explored reserves, of which an estimated 155 million metric tons are considered economically recoverable under current technical and economic conditions.

Al-Khaled said numerous quartz sand deposits across Syria have yet to undergo detailed exploration, indicating that the country’s confirmed resource base could expand as geological surveys continue.

Laboratory analyseshave recorded silicon dioxide concentrations exceeding 99 percent in some samples, while the al-Rmeileh deposit—the country’s most extensively studied silica deposit—contains average silicon dioxide concentrations ranging from 95.4 percent to 99.07 percent, he said.

He added that silica purity generally increases with depth, while surface layers contain higher concentrations of limestone, iron and other naturally occurring impurities that determine the material’s suitability for different industrial applications.

Al-Nasser said continued development of the sector will require sustained financing, access to advanced processing technologies, specialized technical expertise and stronger investment partnerships.

He added that large-scale silica and silicon projects could begin generating measurable economic benefits within five to seven years of production. The projects would create jobs, support the transport, construction and logistics sectors, diversify exports and strengthen the renewable energy sector through a domestic supply of strategic raw materials.

The current strategy builds on initiatives launched in recent years. In 2025, former GEGMR Director Siraj al-Hariri told Al-Thawra Al-Souria that the al-Qaryatayn region contains between 172 million and 195 million metric tons of high-purity quartz sand with silicon dioxide concentrations exceeding 98 percent.

In separate remarks, Wahbi estimated Syria’s total silica resource base at approximately 672 million metric tons and referred to proposals for establishing an integrated industrial complex, in addition to discussions on a USD 67 million silica processing plant.

The government said developing the silica sector is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the contribution of mining and manufacturing to the national economy by expanding value-added industries, improving the use of domestic mineral resources, boosting exports and supporting sustainable economic development.