Turkey has announced plans to launch its first-ever deep-water offshore drilling operation abroad, with exploration activities set to begin off the coast of Somalia as early as next month, according to Ankara’s energy minister Alparslan Bayraktar.
Bayraktar said the drilling campaign will mark Turkey’s initial entry into deep-water exploration outside its borders, following an energy cooperation agreement signed between Turkey and Somalia in 2024. The move aligns with Turkey’s broader strategy to diversify energy supplies and reduce dependence on imported oil and gas.
READ: Afripower kicks off construction of utility-scale solar project in Madagascar
Drilling program
The offshore drilling program follows the completion of extensive seismic surveys carried out by state-owned Turkish Petroleum (TPAO). The surveys, which began in October last year, covered three offshore exploration blocks, each measuring roughly 5,000 square kilometres. In addition to offshore prospects, Turkey also plans to pursue onshore exploration in Somalia.
Bayraktar acknowledged that operating in Somalia presents significant logistical and security challenges. He noted that basic infrastructure, including access roads, is largely absent in some exploration areas, requiring substantial upfront investment. Security concerns also remain a key issue, though Turkey is working with Somali authorities to mitigate the risks.
Industry analysts estimate that Turkey could invest up to US $500M in Somalia’s oil and gas exploration efforts. Somalia is believed to hold substantial hydrocarbon potential, with oil resources estimated at more than 30 billion barrels. However, decades of conflict and political instability have prevented large-scale development of the sector.
Several international oil majors held exploration licences in Somalia before 1991 but exited following the collapse of the central government. Turkey, which has been a major investor in Somalia since 2011, now appears poised to reopen offshore exploration, with TPAO expected to drill a play-opening wildcat well this quarter using one of its newly acquired drillships.
