Damascus, Sept. 20 (SANA)Syria has increased electricity generation to 3,500 megawatts from 915 MW and is pursuing new gas-fired power plants and grid upgrades to meet demand expected to double by 2030, Energy MinisterMohammad al-Bashirtold the People’s Assembly on Sunday.

Speaking during a hearing, al-Bashir told the Assembly that the increase in generation has raised electricity availability to between 18 and 20 hours a day in most provinces, compared with one to two hours previously.

“When we entered Damascus, electricity generation stood at 915 megawatts, with power available for only one to two hours a day,” al-Bashir said. “Today, we generate 3,500 megawatts.”

The minister said Syria currently has 458 substations and 12 power generation plants, a large number of which were put out of service because of practices under the deposed regime.

Al-Bashir said the ministry is pursuing strategic projects to expand generation capacity and has secured memorandums of understanding to build four newgas-fired power plantsin several areas.

He said work has begun on the Tishreen thermal power plant as part of a broader plan to expand generation capacity.

Solar power projects will require additional substations and supporting infrastructure, which will take time to put in place, he said.

“Syria’s electricity demand will double by 2030 as a result of economic development,” al-Bashir said, adding that the ministry is working to increase generation and improve the power grid.

Al-Bashir said 8 percent of Syria’s electricity transmission system has been rehabilitated, including regional interconnection lines withTürkiyeand Jordan.

The country continues to face high electricity losses because of deteriorating power plants, substations and transmission networks, as well as unauthorized connections to the grid, he said.

The ministry has begun importing smart electricity and water meters as part of efforts to reduce losses and modernize billing and payment systems.

Al-Bashir said the ministry signed a contract with a Saudi company to conduct a study and build a supervisory control system for the Syrian electricity grid. The system is estimated to cost about $60 million.

The ministry plans to begin installing 300,000 smart meters in Damascus and Idlib this year before expanding the program to all provinces.

Al-Bashir said smart electricity and water meters would help reduce energy losses while facilitating account top-ups and payments.

Al-Bashir said electricity for residential, industrial and commercial consumers remains subsidized under the current tariff structure.

The subsidy rate stands at 75 percent for the first consumption tier and 42 percent for the second tier, he said. Lines exempt from power rationing receive a 30 percent subsidy, while the subsidy for industrial consumers and high-voltage users stands at 26 percent.

The government has introduced a subsidized household tier covering 150 kilowatt-hours per month, priced at about 4.5 cents per kilowatt-hour.

“The monthly bill for 150 kilowatt-hours of electricity is about $6.50,” al-Bashir said, adding that this level of consumption is sufficient for household lighting.

Al-Bashir said the electricity company owes thegas company$1.65 billion, while low bill collection rates in some provinces have affected its ability to purchase gas and maintain electricity service.

He said the price of gas set between the Syrian Petroleum Company and the electricity sector stands at $9 per million thermal units, compared with about $22 per million thermal units for gas currently purchased on global markets.

Higher global gas prices are forcing Syria to reduce gas purchases by about 2 million cubic meters, affecting electricity service levels, al-Bashir said.

The minister said the government is working to expand generation and modernize the grid while addressing the financial and fuel-supply pressures affecting theelectricity sector.