Damascus, MINA – An alleged attack on the Arab Gas Pipeline in Syria caused a nationwide blackout all night. The explosion occurred on Sunday. Syrian news agency SANA reported.
As reported by the Guardian, according to SANA who quoted the minister of electricity, Mohammad Kharboutli, a pipe explosion in the Damascus area caused a power cut across Syria.
The minister said the explosion occurred between the suburbs of Al-Dhumayr and Adra and caused a drop in gas supply to the power plant.
“Some of the power plants were finally reconnected and electricity was provided for vital infrastructure,” said Kharboutli.
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He added that at dawn electricity was gradually returning to several provinces.
The News Agency published images of fires at night that it said was caused by a pipe explosion. The Minister of Petroleum, Ali Ghanem, suspects the explosion was the act of terrorists.
“The explosion in the main pipeline supplying southern Syria may have been caused by a terrorist act,” he said without giving further details. Pipa 36 inc supplies three power stations in the south of the country.
The Ikhbariya TV channel showed footage of a huge fire after the explosion. A resident in Damascus said electricity had returned to the capital.
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In 2013, large parts of Syria were hit by a power outage after rebel shelling hit a gas pipeline during the country’s civil war. The Arab Gas Pipeline System stretches from Egypt to Jordan and Syria. (T/RE1)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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