Syria on Thursday launched the first stage of a photovoltaic power project to address the country's severe energy crisis.
The project, located in the industrial city of Adra, some 18 km northeast of the capital Damascus, is expected to generate 100 megawatts of electricity through solar panels, according to the presidential media office.
More than 18,000 photovoltaic panels have been installed so far and the energy generated from this project has been connected to the electricity grid to cumulatively support the electrical output in Syria.
The Syrian government has also launched a loan program, encouraging people to install solar panels to compensate for the shoratge of electricity.
Syria is reeling under a severe energy crisis as a result of the U.S. economic sanctions and the U.S. control of key oil and gas fields in northern and northeastern Syria.
Editor: Leon
