Turkey Launches Major Offshore Oil Exploration Campaign in Somali Waters
Turkey is set to begin its first overseas deepwater oil and gas exploration venture off the coast of Somalia, with drilling operations expected to commence in February 2026, in what could open a new chapter in the Horn of Africa nation’s energy sector.
Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced that the drilling vessel Cagri Bay is expected to arrive in Somali waters next month as part of a bilateral energy agreement signed between Turkey and Somalia in 2024. Full-scale drilling will extend to onshore areas later in the year. “We are building Türkiye-Somalia energy cooperation on solid foundations,” Bayraktar stated. “As Türkiye, we view Somalia as one of our most important partners in Africa, and we believe that our cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector will hopefully open the doors to a new era in the near future.”
The announcement comes as Somalia pursues a dual-track energy strategy, simultaneously developing its renewable energy potential while exploring its hydrocarbon reserves. The project follows discussions between Bayraktar and Somali Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Dahir Shire Mohamed about cooperation opportunities in hydrocarbon exploitation activities in Somalia’s land and sea territory.
Despite having significant renewable energy potential with solar irradiance averaging 5-7 kWh/m²/day, Somalia currently has an installed capacity of approximately 400 MW, with roughly 300 MW coming from diesel and only 100 MW from solar and wind power. Around 80 percent of Somalia’s urban population and just 24 percent of its rural communities have access to electricity. The exploration initiative represents Turkey’s strategic expansion into African energy markets and could potentially provide Somalia with new revenue streams to support its broader development goals.
Source: Oilprice.com
