Somalia has announced it is ready to begin its first offshore oil drilling operations, marking a significant step in its efforts to develop a long-untapped energy sector.
According to the BBC, the move comes as a Turkish government-owned drilling vessel is expected to arrive off Somalia’s coast on Friday, paving the way for exploratory operations in the country’s territorial waters.
Officials say the development follows the successful completion of seismic surveys conducted last year by a Turkish research ship, which identified promising offshore hydrocarbon prospects.
Somalia’s Petroleum Minister, Dahir Shire, described the moment as a “historic milestone” in the country’s offshore energy journey, signaling the beginning of a new phase in resource exploration.
The drilling operations will be carried out by the Turkish Petroleum Corporation using its vessel, Çağrı Bey, which is undertaking its first international mission.
The ship is expected to conduct deep-water drilling in areas identified during earlier surveys, targeting what authorities describe as the most promising offshore sites.
Somali officials say the initiative reflects the country’s readiness to transition from exploration to drilling, after years of preparation and assessment of its energy potential.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that a successful discovery could unlock significant offshore reserves and contribute to Somalia’s economic recovery.
Authorities also see the project as a step toward positioning Somalia as an emerging energy player in the East African region.
Minister Shire emphasized that the government aims to ensure that any future oil revenues translate into tangible benefits for the population, including improved living conditions and national development.
The project is part of a broader cooperation framework between Somalia and Turkey, formalized in 2024 through a production-sharing agreement covering offshore resources.
Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Ali Omar, said the drilling campaign would further strengthen Turkey’s role as a long-term development partner.
For its part, Turkey has highlighted the potential economic gains of the initiative, with Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar noting that any discovery could benefit not only Somalia but also the wider region.
Turkey has significantly expanded its presence in Somalia over the past decade, investing in infrastructure, security, and development projects, while also maintaining a military base in the country since 2017.
Despite estimates suggesting Somalia may hold billions of barrels of oil, exploration efforts have long been hindered by instability and conflict, making this latest step a potentially transformative moment for the country’s energy ambitions.
