Turkey expressed hope to assist in boosting Syria's Oil & Gas production, marking the latest initiative for deeper involvement in the country's reconstruction. Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated that after more than a decade of conflict has damaged Syria's infrastructure, Turkish authorities are exploring ways to meet Syria's Electrical Utilities needs. "We are also looking into how to utilize Crude Oil Product and Gas to rebuild Syria. We plan to inform our counterparts about how we can contribute in this regard," Bayraktar said. This comment highlights Turkey's desire to play a role in Syria's reconstruction. Turkish President Erdogan is attempting to maintain friendly relations with groups leading the Syrian transitional government, which would allow Turkish companies to take a leading role in the reconstruction. Bayraktar mentioned that new Oil & Gas pipelines would connect Syria to Turkey's export terminals through long-term cooperation. According to Turkey's estimates, Syria's current daily oil production is only about 0.03 million barrels, approximately 5% of the level two decades ago.