Damascus, Aug. 19 (SANA)The Syrian Petroleum Company said an explosion at 4 a.m. Tuesday on the gas export pipeline fromthe Jbessa Gas Plantin Hasakah countryside was caused by deliberate sabotage, halting gas pumping.The company said preliminary investigations and an immediate site inspection indicated that the explosion resulted from a deliberate act of sabotage.In a statement posted on its Telegram channel, the company said the wells were isolated, safety valves closed and the site secured, with no injuries reported. Its teams immediately secured the necessary equipment, while repair crews began round-the-clock work.The company said the interruption affected gas supplies to a number of power-generating turbines and that it is coordinating withthe Syrian Electricity Companyto compensate for the shortfall through available alternatives.It added that it is coordinating with relevant authorities to complete the investigation and pursue those responsible.The company also began additional measures to strengthen protection of its oil and gas facilities and transportation pipelines, stressing that targeting these facilities affects a service that reaches every citizen’s home.Work is continuing until the pipeline is restored, the company said, urging the public to rely solely on its official channels for information and not circulate reports from other sources.On January 24,the Syrian Petroleum Companybegan pumping raw gas from the Jbessa fields in Hasakah to the Furqlus Gas Plant in Homs countryside at 35 bars, in a step aimed at boosting production and securing gas for power generation.