Plan Unveiled in Tartus
Syria's General Authority for Border Crossings and Customs has launched a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate the phosphate berth at Tartus port, the authority's director of relations Mazen Allouch said on Saturday, 16 May 2026, in a post on X. The works will be carried out in line with international environmental standards designed to protect both the coastal city and the surrounding marine environment.
Inherited Dilapidation
Allouch said the file of phosphate exports in Syria has suffered from inherited deterioration left by the former regime, whether in infrastructure, operating mechanisms, or environmental compliance. A dedicated phosphate loading berth has existed at Tartus port for years but had remained largely out of real service and was not optimally exploited.
New Dust and Emission Controls
The overhaul covers structural maintenance, modernized loading and unloading equipment, and the adoption of systems to limit emissions and dust generated during shipping operations. Closed transport systems, dust suppression and stabilization sprays, and upgraded storage and handling mechanisms are being introduced inside the port's restricted area to address the environmental footprint of bulk-material handling.
Toward a Dedicated Bulk Port
The project goes beyond restarting the existing berth. Allouch said the plan includes a strategic direction to build an integrated port dedicated to handling environmentally sensitive bulk materials such as phosphate and clinker, separating these activities from other port operations to raise safety and operational efficiency.
Targets for Exports and Revenue
Restarting the berth, Allouch said, will directly increase export volumes, improve revenues, lower operating costs, and reinforce Tartus port's standing as a regional logistics hub for raw-material exports. He said the authority is operating from a clear vision aimed at developing Syria's port sector on modern foundations, balancing economic development with environmental protection and restoring the country's ports to their vital regional role.
The authority's president, Qutaiba Badawi, inspected the maintenance and rehabilitation work and the site earmarked for the dedicated phosphate export berth on 28 April 2026, alongside facilities undergoing wider upgrades inside the port.