While the Oruç Reis Seismic Research Vessel continues to search for oil and natural gas in the Somali seas, a new move came from Türkiye. The national oil companies of the two countries also reached an agreement for Somali land fields. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar announced that Türkiye will begin searching for oil and natural gas in Somalia in the coming months in 16 land fields of approximately 3 thousand kilometers.
Signatures Made
Minister Bayraktar met with Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Dahir Shire Mohamed in Ankara. Following the meeting held at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the “Onshore Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production Agreement between Turkey and Somalia” was signed between Turkish Petroleum and the Somali Petroleum Authority.
Seismic Work to Begin
Bayraktar, who accompanied his Somali counterpart to the agreement ceremony, stated that they added a new link to the energy cooperation between Turkey and Somalia. Bayraktar stated that Turkish Petroleum will start oil and natural gas exploration activities in three land areas of approximately 16 thousand kilometers in the coming months and said, “In the first stage, with seismic studies and then with rapid drilling activities, we will move on to the detection and production of oil and gas in those fields.”
78 Percent Completed
Bayraktar, who recalled that they sent the Oruç Reis Seismic Research Vessel to Somalia last October, said, “Three-dimensional seismic activities continue in a 15-sea area of approximately 3 thousand square kilometers. It is 78 percent complete. We will complete the seismic activities in May. We will make our decision regarding the drilling phase in light of the data obtained.”
New Agenda Mines
Bayraktar pointed out that the exemplary cooperation between the two countries continues to grow stronger and said that they aim to develop concrete projects regarding Somali mines.
Overseas Production Will Increase
Emphasizing that Türkiye is pursuing a multi-faceted energy diplomacy, Bayraktar reminded that Turkish Petroleum will search for oil and natural gas in the Pakistani seas and said, “We must definitely be in different geographies. Today, we will continue our work to add new ones to our current production in Azerbaijan, Iraq and Russia and to increase Türkiye’s oil and gas production in different countries.”
International Natural Resources Summit
Bayraktar announced that they will be organizing the International Natural Resources Summit in Istanbul on May 2nd under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and said, “We will also be holding an important organization to take our cooperation related to oil, natural gas and mines one step further.”
