Syria's government has ordered the shutdown of approximately 1,200 informal petroleum distillation units operating in the Tareehin area of Aleppo governorate, in a move the energy ministry says is aimed at restructuring the domestic fuel production sector and curtailing environmental damage.
Energy Minister Muhammad al-Bashir announced that the closure will be implemented gradually to minimize disruption for workers employed in the informal operations. Authorities are in negotiations with refinery operators over transition arrangements, while alternative employment opportunities are being developed through formal petroleum sector projects, including a planned industrial refinery in Deir ez-Zor.
The informal units have long been a source of concern for regulators and health authorities. Energy expert Dr. Ziad Arbash characterized the facilities as causing "serious health and economic damage," citing the release of toxic gases including benzene and hydrogen sulfide, as well as soil contamination from uncontrolled discharge.
From an economic standpoint, the primitive distillation methods extract only 30 to 40 percent of the potential value from crude oil, producing fuels with excessive sulfur content that fall below commercial and environmental standards. The Syrian Petroleum Company has stated its intention to channel all domestic fuel production through official refining infrastructure.
The closure is one of several efforts by Syrian authorities to reassert control over informal energy markets that expanded during years of conflict. Aleppo's unofficial refining industry developed as a workaround during periods when formal petroleum supply networks were disrupted, providing a local source of fuel but at the cost of safety and efficiency.
Workers and small operators in the sector have expressed concern about job losses. The government has indicated that the transition will be managed to reduce unemployment impacts, though specific retraining programs or compensation schemes were not detailed in the announcement.