Two Decrees, New Leadership
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued two decrees on 18 October 2026 that changed the leadership of two major state economic bodies. Decree No. 190 appointed Maher Khalil al-Hasan as chief executive of the Syrian Petroleum Company, replacing Youssef Qablawi. Decree No. 191 named Omar Samer al-Halabi as economic affairs adviser to the presidency and chairman of the board of the Sovereign Fund.
Fuel Crisis Backdrop
The change at the petroleum company followed a crisis over substandard gasoline that damaged a number of motorists' vehicles. A technical investigation concluded on 13 October 2026 that an operational error during transport had mixed a non-conforming shipment with gasoline that met specifications.
The company was tasked with setting up a mechanism to compensate those affected in phases. Officials did not specify the value of the planned compensation.
Contract Investigations
Oversight bodies have been examining the company's contracts. The head of the central oversight and inspection authority said a precautionary seizure of about $104 million (USD) had been imposed, stressing that the sum was not money proven to have been embezzled. The company put preliminary damages in the files under audit at roughly $110 million.
In August, a review of operations at the Deir Ezzor fields pointed to more than $8 million in damages and about $20 million in price differences in crude-oil transport contracts. Nine officials were suspended and referred to the judiciary.
Oil Deals in the Balance
The incoming leadership inherits several pending files. They include talks with Chevron over Block 1 and a plan to transit Iraqi crude through Syrian territory. The outgoing executive said earlier in October that the transit agreement was close to completion.
Backgrounds of the Appointees
Al-Hasan, born in Hama in 1986, holds a degree in petroleum engineering awarded in 2010. He previously served as minister of internal trade in the caretaker government and later as deputy minister of economy and industry.
Al-Halabi holds a master's in business administration from a business school in Madrid and a degree in telecommunications engineering, and has worked at KPMG and Johnson Controls.