Mining Plan 2026. Syria bets on phosphates
The General Organization for Geology and Mineral Resources at the Ministry of Energy has unveiled an ambitious investment plan for 2026, based on the optimal exploitation of mineral resources with high economic feasibility.
The General Director of the Foundation, Siraj Al-Hariri, explained in statements to the newspaper "The Syrian Revolution" that the plan targets strategic ores such as phosphates, quartz sands, and oil sage, in addition to the requirements for the cement industry.
Al-Hariri pointed out that phosphate remains the main pillar after the successful marketing of 711 thousand tons in 2025 through the spot sale system.
Export Ambitions and International Agreements
According to Hariri, the Ministry of Energy is looking forward to increasing the pace of production and expanding the export map in the coming year, with the aim of signing investment agreements of up to 5 million tons in cooperation with local and international companies.
This vision is based on Syria's vast reserves of 1.8 billion tons of phosphate, with a strategic orientation towards "manufacturing" to maximize added value rather than just exporting raw materials.
Energy and Technology Prospects
According to Hariri, the investment plan highlights the "oil sage" as a promising alternative energy resource, with studies to invest it in the Khanaser and Wadi Yarmouk areas for electricity generation, relying on huge reserves exceeding 40 billion tons.
The corporation seeks to develop quartz sand investment to support high-tech industries such as glass, electronics, and solar panels, paving the way for the establishment of a local silicon sector that supports digital and green transformation.
Reconstruction and precious metals
The mining plan did not overlook the needs of the reconstruction phase, as the investment of limestone, basalt, marble, and gypsum will be expanded, with the introduction of electronic control systems to control production in quarries. As for precious metals such as gold and silver, Hariri pointed out that there are encouraging initial indicators, but their investment remains subject to the availability of advanced technologies and huge investments to determine their feasibility accurately, which also applies to copper and iron ores in northern Aleppo.
Restructuring the Sector
At the organizational level, the year 2026 witnessed a milestone with the issuance of Legislative Decree No. 44 establishing the Syrian Mining Company (SMC) as a state-owned holding company.
The company aims to modernize the management of the sector and raise its financial and administrative efficiency, to be the flexible investment arm that leads international partnerships and makes the most of national wealth.
Infrastructure Challenges and the Technical Gap
Despite the great ambitions, economist Radwan al-Debs believes in a similar statement that reality imposes fundamental challenges, as the country suffers from a weakness in infrastructure and the absence of modern technology necessary for accurate exploration and evaluation.
Attracting investors requires a stable legal environment and the provision of basic services such as energy and telecommunications, he said, stressing that success in turning these wealth into an economic power depends on balancing rapid investment and protecting resources from ill-considered depletion.