Bayraktar said the operation will involve the Cagri Bey drilling vessel and will focus on offshore areas within Somali territorial waters. He did not disclose details regarding potential reserves or the scale of investment.

Erdoğan said the initiative would support Somalia’s economic development and noted that Türkiye has recently added two new deep-sea drilling vessels to its national energy fleet.

Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Dahir Shire, described the development as a landmark moment for the country.

"This is a long-awaited and historic moment for the Somali people,” Shire said.

"The progress we are witnessing today proves that Somalia’s natural resources can finally be developed in a serious, transparent, and sustainable manner.”

Türkiye has already carried out extensive seismic surveys in Somali waters under a previously signed cooperation agreement between the two governments, laying the groundwork for the planned drilling operations.

Addressing skepticism surrounding earlier announcements, Minister Shire stressed that the project is definitive and irreversible.

"When the drilling ship arrives in Somali waters in the Indian Ocean, it will not be there for symbolic reasons,” he said.

"It is not going there for fishing. It is going there to drill. Those who are pessimistic about Somalia’s oil and gas sector will soon see tangible results.”

Shire credited the progress to the close partnership between Somalia and Türkiye, highlighting cooperation that extends beyond energy into security and state-building efforts.

"This level of cooperation was made possible through the strong and brotherly relationship between Somalia and Türkiye,” he said.

"Leadership on both sides has been essential, not only in energy development but also in security cooperation and rebuilding state institutions.”

Turkey signed a formal energy exploration agreement with Somalia in 2024 as part of its broader strategy to diversify energy sources, reduce dependence on imports, and expand exploration activities both domestically and overseas.

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar speaks during a session of the Russian Energy Week international forum in Moscow, Russia, October 15, 2025. REUTERS/Ramil Sitdikov Purchase Licensing Rights

SOURCE:-HOL