Türkiye has officially begun oil and natural gas exploration in Somalia’s land areas, following a new agreement between Turkish Petroleum Corporation and the Somali Petroleum Authority. The agreement was announced on Friday by Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar during a ceremony at the Port of Mogadishu, marking the arrival of the Oruc Reis seismic research vessel after a 20-day journey from Istanbul.
Minister Bayraktar emphasized the growing cooperation between Türkiye and Somalia in both land and maritime regions, stating that the Oruc Reis will conduct three-dimensional seismic studies off Somalia’s coast for the next six months. These studies aim to gather crucial data for potential oil and gas drilling sites, with the results set to be analyzed in Ankara.
Earlier in the day, Bayraktar met with Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, reinforcing the strong ties between the two nations. “We aim to strengthen our friendship and contribute to the welfare of the Somali people by investing in oil, gas, mining, and electricity sectors,” Bayraktar posted on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the partnership.
The Turkish delegation also held talks with Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Türkiye’s relationship with Somalia has seen significant growth since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to the Horn of Africa nation in 2011, with investments across education, infrastructure, and health sectors.
This latest oil exploration venture is part of broader agreements signed earlier this year, granting Turkish Petroleum licenses for three offshore areas in Somali waters, totaling approximately 15,000 square kilometers. Seismic surveys are already underway in these zones, further strengthening Türkiye’s role as a key energy partner for Somalia.
