SOCIAL POST: The New Syrian Government Engages in Fraudulent Deals to Propagandise its Citizens
The latest example is a one-sided announcement of a so-called 'deal' with the Venezuela-tied, seemingly US-based solar energy company 20 Solar Energy LLC.
20 Solar Energy LLC itself has made no such announcement, and no media outlets outside of Syrian state-aligned sources have reported on it. This mirrors the opaque nature of the recent $7 billion gas deal with Qatar and points to a transitional government increasingly desperate. No confirmation from 20 Solar Energy LLC, which has a minimal online presence and no credible portfolio (let alone documented Middle Eastern projects), raises strong suspicions of fabrication by the regime to distract a weary population.
Moreover, the announcement lacks any real detail on ownership, sustainability, or profitability, and Syria’s war-damaged power grid lacks the infrastructure necessary to distribute large-scale solar-generated power to civilians or industry. This mirrors the opaque $7B power deal signed in May 2025 with a Qatar-led consortium, including UCC Holding, Power International USA, and Turkish firms Kalyon and Cengiz Enerji, to build four 4,000-MW gas plants and a 1,000-MW solar plant.
While reported by Reuters and AGBI, the deal’s feasibility is widely questioned due to Syria’s dilapidated grid, requiring $5.5B in urgent repairs, and the total absence of transparent financing details from either side involved in the deal. The involvement of U.S. firms, facilitated by the January 2025 U.S. sanctions waiver, suggests a strategic attempt by HTS to align economically with the U.S. to gain legitimacy and international investment despite their governing reputation.
However, the World Bank recently approved a $150 million dollar loan to support Syria’s economic recovery and infrastructure rebuilding, which includes funding for energy projects. This has been widely promoted by the HTS-led government. The HTS government has touted this loan as a lifeline to finance ambitious energy deals like the alleged 20 Solar Energy project, despite a lack of project transparency or evidence of operational capacity.
But the lack of clear allocation plans, transparent procurement, or external oversight raises serious concerns that these funds may be diverted to prop up fraudulent deals or be used purely for domestic propaganda purposes. Rather than fixing what matters (grid restoration, public services, sustainable development) HTS appears to be chasing flashy headlines. This further erodes public trust and deepens the credibility crisis of the transitional regime.
These announcements come as Syria suffers from severe electricity shortages, with most areas receiving only 2–3 hours of power daily. HTS claims of rapid energy improvement may serve as propaganda to pacify a population facing 90% poverty and economic collapse post-Assad. Critics argue these deals, lacking credible external validation, exploit public desperation while masking the government’s inability to address infrastructure and governance challenges, risking further distrust in a fragile transition.