TotalEnergies Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanne met with Syrian officials in Damascus on Tuesday to discuss moving toward an exploration contract, he told reporters in the Syrian capital before explosions occurred in the city center.
According to Pouyanne, the talks were intended to determine whether the company can proceed beyond an initial memorandum of understanding and sign a formal exploration agreement with Syrian counterparts. He described the discussions as focused on whether the parties can now "move toward a contract after our initial memorandum of understanding."
Pouyanne warned that the company cannot yet conduct on-the-ground site visits, because the Syrian government must first secure territory. "We must be patient and realistic after 15 years of civil war in Syria, I cannot send teams into areas that are not yet safe," he said, stressing security constraints on any operating plans.
He also referenced regional transport considerations, saying that in the wake of recent events in Hormuz, exporting oil from Iraq would require transit through Syria. However, he added that the current security situation prevents using that route at this time.
The CEO's remarks underscore two practical barriers to immediate exploration work: the need for governmental control of territory before personnel can be deployed, and regional security dynamics that complicate potential export pathways. The meeting and Pouyanne's comments came ahead of explosions reported in the Damascus city center.
Context and implications
While Pouyanne described an intent to discuss a formal contract, he emphasized caution driven by safety realities on the ground. The company is therefore maintaining a wait-and-see posture until conditions allow safe site access and secure transit routes for any future exports.
The comments do not specify timelines or operational steps beyond the assessment and negotiation phase. They reflect a conditional approach: contractual progress depends on improved security and government control of the areas in question.