MOSCOW – Syria and Russia are in negotiations leading to new oil and natural gas contracts for Russian companies over the next year.

The sources said the Russians could replace Canadian and U.S. firms awarded projects to explore and development energy reserves in Syria.

The focus of negotiations between has been the construction of a gas pipleline from Syria to Lebanon and Turkey. The pipeline would bring natural gas from Egypt, which has already been delivering the energy source to Jordan, Middle East Newsline reported.

Another project being discussed was Russia's exploration of oil and gas reserves in central Syria. The sources said this would involve a 25-year contract valued at more than $1 billion.