Syrian Petroleum Company
Syrian state-owned oil exploration and production company.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC) is a state-owned Syrian enterprise responsible for oil and natural-gas exploration and production. It is one of the principal institutions through which the Syrian state has participated in upstream petroleum activity, particularly in northeastern and eastern parts of the country. The company was established in 1974 and was re-established in 2025 under Decree No. 189, according to the cited Wikipedia reference. The available reference material does not specify whether the 2025 measure represented a legal reorganization, a revival of the earlier entity, or a broader restructuring of Syria’s petroleum administration. Before the Syrian civil war, SPC operated fields and production assets in and around Al-Sweidiyeh in Hasakah Governorate. The fields associated with its operations included Al-Houla, Shadada, Jbeissa, Sweida and Rmelan. In March 2011, SPC was reported to account for approximately 55 percent of Syria’s total oil production. Its role therefore extended beyond that of a small exploration company: it was a central state upstream operator and a significant participant in the country’s domestic petroleum supply chain. SPC also held a 50 percent interest in Al-Furat Petroleum Company, described in the reference material as Syria’s main oil producer. The other identified shareholders were Royal Dutch Shell, India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, and China National Petroleum Corporation. SPC’s other reported 50-percent interests included Amrit Petroleum Company, Awda Petroleum Company, Dujla Petroleum Company, Hayyan, Kawkab Oil Company and Deir Ezzor Petroleum Company. These joint ventures illustrate the company’s historical operating model, in which the Syrian state combined public ownership with foreign technical, financial and operating participation. International partnerships were affected by the political and security conditions that followed the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. The reference material notes that India’s ONGC and China’s CNPC had invested in Syrian oil activities before the conflict. ONGC and IPR International signed an agreement in January 2004 concerning exploration for oil and natural gas in Block 24 near Deir ez-Zor. ONGC and CNPC also jointly acquired a 37 percent stake previously held by Petro-Canada in Al-Furat Petroleum Company. Conflict-related disruption and sanctions subsequently slowed ONGC’s operations in Syria and complicated foreign participation in the sector. On 18 August 2011, the United States added SPC to its sanctions list in connection with the Syrian civil war. The sanctions formed part of wider international restrictions affecting Syria’s petroleum industry, foreign investment, technology access, payments and oil exports. The supplied sources do not provide a current production figure, reserve estimate, revenue figure, employee count or detailed account of the company’s post-2025 operating capacity. Accordingly, SPC is best characterized from the available material as a Syrian state upstream oil and gas company with historically important field operations, joint-venture interests and a role shaped heavily by sanctions and conflict.
History
The Syrian Petroleum Company was established in 1974 as a Syrian state-owned organization for petroleum exploration and production. Its formation reflected the Syrian government’s effort to organize upstream oil activity through a national company rather than relying exclusively on foreign operators. The available reference material does not identify the individuals or institutions responsible for founding the company, nor does it provide a detailed account of its early exploration program. SPC’s historical operating footprint was concentrated in northeastern Syria, especially the Al-Sweidiyeh area of Hasakah Governorate. Reported associated fields included Al-Houla, Shadada, Jbeissa, Sweida and Rmelan. The company’s activities covered the production of crude oil and participation in natural-gas and petroleum exploration. By March 2011, shortly before the Syrian conflict substantially disrupted the country’s energy sector, SPC was reported to produce about 55 percent of Syria’s total oil output. This figure indicates the company’s importance to the national petroleum system, although the cited material does not provide a complete production series or explain the methodology behind the estimate. SPC operated within a joint-venture structure that combined state participation with foreign investment. It held a 50 percent stake in Al-Furat Petroleum Company, identified in the reference material as Syria’s main oil producer. The remaining interests were associated with Royal Dutch Shell, India’s ONGC and China’s CNPC. SPC also held 50 percent interests in Amrit Petroleum Company, Awda Petroleum Company, Dujla Petroleum Company, Hayyan, Kawkab Oil Company and Deir Ezzor Petroleum Company. The sources do not state whether every listed subsidiary remained operational throughout the conflict or after the company’s 2025 re-establishment. Foreign involvement in Syrian oil preceded the civil war. In January 2004, ONGC and IPR International signed an agreement concerning exploration for oil and natural gas in Block 24 near Deir ez-Zor. ONGC and CNPC later jointly acquired a 37 percent stake in Al-Furat Petroleum Company that had previously been held by Petro-Canada. These arrangements connected Syria’s upstream sector to international oil companies and national oil companies from Asia and Europe. Conflict, insecurity and sanctions later slowed ONGC’s operations and impeded wider international participation. On 18 August 2011, the United States sanctioned SPC in the context of the Syrian civil war. The designation affected the company’s access to international commercial and financial channels and formed part of a broader sanctions regime directed at Syrian state institutions and the petroleum sector. The supplied reference material does not document a separate enforcement proceeding or criminal finding against SPC; the sanctions designation is therefore recorded as a regulatory and geopolitical event rather than as proof of wrongdoing. The company was reported to have been re-established in 2025 under Decree No. 189. The available source does not provide the decree’s text, current management, production levels, ownership changes or a detailed description of the new corporate structure. On the evidence available, the 2025 event marks a new institutional phase for a company whose historical identity was tied to Syrian state ownership, upstream field operations, joint ventures and the consequences of the civil war and international sanctions.
- 2025
Re-established under Decree No. 189
[1]The company was reported as re-established under Decree No. 189; the available source does not detail the resulting structure or operations.
- 2011
SPC reported as a major national producer
[1]In March 2011, SPC was reported to account for approximately 55 percent of Syria’s oil production.
- 2011
United States sanctions designation
[1]The United States added SPC to its sanctions list on 18 August 2011.
- 2004
Block 24 exploration agreement
[1]ONGC and IPR International signed an agreement for oil and natural-gas exploration in Block 24 near Deir ez-Zor.
- 1974
Company established
[1]The Syrian Petroleum Company was established as a state-owned oil exploration and production enterprise.
Products and positioning
State-owned Syrian upstream oil and gas exploration and production company.
Upstream petroleum
Crude oil
Crude oil production has historically been SPC’s central activity. The company operated or participated in fields in northeastern Syria, including assets around Al-Sweidiyeh in Hasakah Governorate. The cited material does not provide current grades, volumes or refining arrangements.
Upstream natural gas
Natural gas
SPC has been associated with natural-gas exploration and production as part of its upstream mandate. A 2004 exploration agreement involving ONGC and IPR International covered both oil and natural gas in Block 24 near Deir ez-Zor. Current gas output and reserves are not specified in the available sources.
Controversies
2011
United States sanctions designation
The United States placed SPC on its sanctions list on 18 August 2011 in connection with the Syrian civil war. The designation restricted dealings involving the company under the applicable U.S. sanctions framework. The supplied source does not describe a separate court judgment or criminal conviction.
Brand decisions
2025
Re-establishment under Decree No. 189StrategyBackground
The company was reported as re-established in 2025 after years in which Syria’s petroleum sector had been affected by conflict and international sanctions.
Action taken
Decree No. 189 re-established the Syrian Petroleum Company.
Aftermath
The available reference does not state the decree’s detailed legal effects, management arrangements, production targets or consequences for SPC’s subsidiaries and joint ventures.
Sources1 sources
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