Specialized engineering units and teams from the Syrian Petroleum Company have launched operations to clear mines and explosive remnants of war along the Koniko gas pipeline in eastern Deir Ezzor, state media reported Friday.

The demining effort is a critical first step in the rehabilitation of the energy corridor, which has been crippled by years of conflict. 

Officials stated the primary objective of the current phase is to secure the pipeline’s route, ensuring the safety of technical personnel and heavy equipment before full-scale reconstruction begins.

The restoration project focuses on a significant gap in the infrastructure. Engineers plan to install a missing section of the pipeline spanning approximately five kilometers (about three miles). 

Once completed, the fix is expected to bolster the reliability of Syria’s gas transport network and stabilize national production levels.

The Koniko pipeline is a vital artery in the country’s energy framework, linking the Koniko gas field and its associated processing plant in northeastern Deir Ezzor. 

Before the war, the plant was among the most productive gas facilities in the region, providing essential fuel for power generation.

However, the infrastructure has remained largely dormant due to extensive sabotage and the presence of unexploded ordnance.

 The Syrian Petroleum Company noted that while several sections were rendered inoperable by direct strikes, contamination of the surrounding terrain with landmines has been the primary factor delaying maintenance and restoration efforts to date.

The move to reclaim and repair the Koniko line comes as part of a broader push to revive the nation's energy sector. 

By reintegrating the pipeline into the national grid, officials hope to alleviate the chronic fuel shortages that have hampered the local economy, with the local engineering units emphasizing that the completion timeline depends on the density of the minefields. 

Once the five-kilometer gap is bridged and the line is pressurized, the facility is expected to return to its role as a cornerstone of the regional energy supply.