Somalia is set to embark on its first offshore oil drilling operation, with a Turkish government-owned drilling ship, Çağrı Bey, expected to arrive in Somali waters on Friday.
The announcement follows successful seismic surveys conducted last year by a Turkish research vessel, which identified promising offshore hydrocarbon sites in the Arabian Sea.
In a post on X, Somalia’s Petroleum Minister Dahir Shire called the drilling campaign a “historic milestone in our offshore energy journey… A new chapter begins.”
The Somali Foreign Ministry noted that successful drilling could unlock significant offshore oil reserves, providing a boost to the country’s economic recovery and positioning Somalia as a regional energy player.
The Çağrı Bey, on its first international mission, will carry out deepwater exploratory drilling at sites mapped during recent surveys. Minister Shire emphasized that any discoveries would be used to ensure national prosperity and improve citizens’ well-being.
Somalia and Turkey formalized their cooperation in 2024 through a production-sharing agreement. Turkish Foreign Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the operation could bring economic benefits not just to Somalia but to East Africa and Turkey as well.
Turkey has maintained strong ties with Somalia for over a decade, investing in infrastructure and operating a major military base since 2017. Analysts say this first offshore drilling effort reflects the country’s readiness to expand its energy sector despite decades of conflict and political instability.
Experts estimate Somalia could hold billions of barrels in untapped oil reserves, but exploration had been limited due to prolonged instability. The arrival of the Çağrı Bey marks a turning point for the nation’s energy ambitions.
