Diesel Shipment Reaches Banias
The Syrian Petroleum Company began unloading a tanker carrying 29,964 tons of diesel at the Banias oil terminal on 15 October 2026, a step aimed at stabilizing fuel supplies to the local market.
The terminal on the Mediterranean coast is a principal entry point for imported fuel, and the cargo is intended to replenish stocks as households and transporters prepare for the colder months, when demand typically climbs.
A Sequence of Cargoes
The latest tanker follows an earlier vessel with a capacity of 16,000 tons that was connected and emptied at the terminal's pneumatic depots, with a further ship waiting its turn amid rising demand ahead of winter.
The pattern points to a rotation of arrivals meant to keep distribution supplied steadily rather than depending on a single large delivery, with successive cargoes feeding the depots in turn.
How the Terminal Works
Connecting a tanker to the terminal takes roughly four to five hours, while a full pumping cycle averages about 12 hours and can stretch beyond 24 hours for larger cargoes.
The speed of these operations shapes how quickly fuel moves from ships into the inland networks that serve filling stations, and it sets the rhythm at which each vessel can be cleared and the next brought alongside.
Refinery Upgrade Underway
Maintenance is being carried out at the Banias refinery to raise its processing capacity from about 80,000 to 130,000 barrels per day.
The expansion would increase the volume of crude that can be processed into usable fuel domestically, complementing the imported shipments arriving by sea.
Shortages on the Ground
The arrivals come as Hama, Aleppo and Idlib have faced an acute diesel shortage, with station operators reporting that deliveries were delayed even after payment and complaints that substandard fuel had damaged vehicles.
Restoring steady flows to filling stations is the stated aim, with fuel expected to reach outlets across the affected areas once the current cargoes are pumped and distributed.