SOMALIA: Türkiye to Begin Offshore Drilling at the Horn of Africa
Türkiye is set to begin offshore drilling operations in Somalia in a move that could mark a turning point for the country’s upstream oil and gas sector. The development follows the successful conclusion of a three-day Technical Committee Meeting between the Somali Petroleum Authority (SPA) and Turkish Petroleum Company (TPAO) held in Mogadishu from October 10 to 12, 2025, signaling Somalia’s transition from seismic studies to drilling.
The high-level meeting, co-chaired by Eng. Abdulqadir Aden, Chairman of SPA, and Korhan Akin, Director of the Somalia–Türkiye Petroleum Project, brought together senior technical experts to review exploration progress, exchange geological data and align strategies ahead of drilling. According to SPA, seismic acquisition and processing have been completed, with data interpretation now in its final stages to identify optimal drilling locations.
Discussions focused on Blocks 142, 152 and 153, with emphasis on seismic interpretation, basin analysis and subsurface modeling to reduce exploration risks and improve decision-making. The committee also addressed the establishment of robust Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) systems, financial planning frameworks and capacity-building initiatives to ensure operations meet international petroleum industry standards. Somalia’s Blocks 142, 152, and 153 are offshore oil and gas exploration areas located in the Obbia Basin off the coast of the Galmudug state. These blocks are currently licensed to Turkish Petroleum (TPAO) for exploration.
The move toward drilling builds on an inter-governmental cooperation agreement signed on March 7, 2024, under which Türkiye and Somalia agreed to collaborate on the exploration and development of offshore and onshore oil and gas resources. The agreement covers exploration, production, transportation, refining and marketing, laying the foundation for future production-sharing arrangements.
Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has described the planned offshore drilling as potentially “game-changing” for the region. The operation will be conducted in ultra-deep waters off Somalia’s coast using Türkiye’s drillship Cagri Bey, marking its first overseas deep-sea drilling campaign, expected to commence in February.
As Somalia advances toward drilling, the partnership with Türkiye underscores a strategic effort to responsibly develop hydrocarbon resources, strengthen governance and unlock long-term economic growth for the country.