Sanctions take their toll

The Syrian energy sector is currently reeling from the sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) and the US in the last quarter of 2011 in response to Damascus’ severe crackdown on protests that began in March last year. Oil production has since slumped by 35% according to the Syrian government, the country lacks storage capacity, there have been attacks on pipelines and the regime is struggling to find buyers for its heavy crude, reports Paul Cochrane in Beirut.