Türkiye is set to begin a significant oil and gas exploration mission off the coast of Somalia, with the seismic research vessel Oruç Reis preparing to depart later this month. The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry confirmed on Thursday that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will oversee a ceremony on Saturday to mark the ship's departure from Filyos Port. Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar will also be in attendance.
Oruç Reis, built entirely by Turkish engineers and launched in 2017, will travel through the Bosporus, the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, and the Red Sea before arriving off Somalia's coast by the end of October. It will conduct a detailed three-dimensional seismic survey across three licensed maritime areas, each covering 5,000 square kilometers, as part of Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to tap into new energy resources. The survey is expected to last approximately seven months.
The mission comes after Türkiye and Somalia signed agreements earlier this year for hydrocarbon exploration and production, following an initial oil and gas cooperation deal in March. Turkish Petroleum was granted a license for exploration in 15,000 square kilometers of Somali waters. "This seismic survey is the first step in exploring the area, which we believe holds significant oil prospects," Minister Bayraktar said.
Oruç Reis will be accompanied by two navy frigates and support ships throughout the mission. The data collected during the operation will be analyzed in Ankara, with drilling set to begin at the most promising sites based on the results.
This exploration is part of Türkiye's broader strategy to strengthen its partnership with Somalia, which has become a key ally in recent years. In addition to energy cooperation, the two nations have also signed defense and economic agreements. Ankara has played a role in mediating disputes between Somalia and Ethiopia, and in 2017, Türkiye established its largest overseas military base in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. This cooperation extends to training for Somali military and police forces, further deepening the relationship between the two countries.
