Somalia is poised to begin its first offshore oil drilling operations, marking a significant milestone in its energy journey.
The Turkish government-owned drilling ship, Çağrı Bey, is expected to arrive off Somalia’s coast on Friday, carrying out deep-water drilling at sites identified by recent surveys.
This move follows the successful completion of seismic surveys last year by a Turkish research vessel.
Somalia’s Petroleum Minister, Dahir Shire, described the development as a “historic milestone in our offshore energy journey… A new chapter begins.” The drilling is expected to unlock offshore oil reserves, supporting Somalia’s economic recovery and positioning it as a regional energy player.
The Turkish Petroleum Corporation’s Çağrı Bey is on its first international mission, heading into Somalia’s territorial waters in the Arabian Sea.
Turkey and Somalia formalized their cooperation in 2024 through a production-sharing agreement, aiming to boost Somalia’s energy sector.
