Syria's oil industry is gradually recovering, leading to a weakening of Russia's influence in the country. The main oil-producing areas are concentrated in Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah, which were lost during the civil war:
Damascus has regained important assets in Deir ez-Zor, including the largest oil fields (Omar and Tanak) and the Conoco gas field. The Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC) has restarted the transfer of crude oil to the Baniyas refinery:
Damascus has already taken control of the main oil assets in Hasakah, and SPC teams began taking them over. ConocoPhillips has returned to Syria under an agreement with SPC to rehabilitate existing gas fields and develop new production:
At the same time, Western and Gulf companies are moving into offshore exploration, indicating that Russia is losing its former positions:
