May 11, 2026 [Storage Terminals Magazine]- Representatives of INA and MOL Group have concluded a series of constructive meetings with senior officials from the Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC), focusing on the potential reactivation of INA’s oil and gas operations in Syria.

The three-day visit centered on evaluating pathways for restarting operations on INA’s former Syrian concessions. Earlier this year, INA and SPC established a joint technical team tasked with assessing the feasibility of resuming activities in the country. The team is currently reviewing operational, technical, commercial and regulatory conditions required for a potential return.

Both parties described the discussions as productive and forward-looking, highlighting a shared commitment to identifying a viable framework for renewed cooperation.

The SPC delegation was led by Yousef Qiblawy, CEO of Syrian Petroleum Company, alongside Zuhair Sawwan, director of Development and Exploration, and Hisam Suleymanelsalih, vice president of Gas Development. During the visit, the delegation held meetings at MOL Group’s headquarters in Budapest and INA’s offices in Zagreb. Representatives also met with Croatian Minister of Economy Ante Šušnjar to discuss ongoing developments and regional energy cooperation.

As part of the official programme, the delegation visited the LNG terminal on Croatia’s Krk Island on May 5th. The visit underscored the growing importance of energy diversification, secure supply routes and modern infrastructure development within the Mediterranean energy sector.

A major milestone of the visit was the joint expert team meeting held on May 6th, where participants reviewed key findings from a comprehensive assessment of infrastructure and field conditions following the suspension of INA’s Syrian operations more than a decade ago. The team is expected to define the technical and safety requirements necessary for restarting operations and establish a strategic roadmap for future collaboration.

Zsuzsanna Ortutay said the discussions had progressed positively, although significant regulatory, legal, commercial and operational matters still need to be resolved before operations can resume.

Meanwhile, Zsombor Marton highlighted Syria’s historic importance within MOL Group and INA’s international portfolio. He noted that the companies had successfully discovered and developed hydrocarbon fields in the country, reaching production levels of 37,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2011. Before operations were suspended in 2012, INA had invested approximately $1.1 billion in Syria, including the construction of a gas processing plant at the Hayan gas field.