JidbaaleTurkey’s seismic research vessel, Oruc Reis, is on route to start a significant oil exploration campaign off the coast of Somalia, signifying a pivotal point in Somalia’s prospective economic change. The expedition follows agreements established earlier this year between Somalia and Turkey, which conferred exploration rights to Turkish Petroleum in three offshore zones. Each block encompasses around 5,000 square kilometers (1,930 square miles), making this one of the biggest energy exploration initiatives in the area.
The Oruc Reis is anticipated to reach Somali seas by the conclusion of this month. In the next seven months, the vessel will perform comprehensive 2D and 3D seismic surveys to identify probable oil and gas deposits. The data gathered during this timeframe will be crucial in pinpointing prospective drilling locations, facilitating Somalia’s integration into the global energy market.
The Oruc Reis is accompanied by two Turkish navy frigates and assisted by three more vessels—Zaganos Paşa and Sancar—highlighting Turkey’s strengthening defense relations with Somalia.
Somalia’s government has fully approved the expedition, with Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Abdirizak Mohamed calling it a “monumental day.”
During the send-off ceremony, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized the significance of the mission. “Since 2017, Oruc Reis has played a vital role in our marine exploration endeavors. Now, it will contribute to Somalia’s economic development and stability by investigating offshore energy resources,” Erdogan remarked.
The Oruc Reis is departing from the port of Filyos in northwest Turkey, traversing the Mediterranean, passing through the Suez Canal, and proceeding towards the Red Sea on route to Somalia. The expedition is planned to take roughly 20 days, and the vessel is projected to arrive in Somali seas by the end of the month.
According to current seismic research, Somalia possesses tremendous hydrocarbon potential, notably in its offshore basins. Preliminary investigations estimate the Somali Basin alone might hold up to 30 billion barrels of oil. Other offshore locations, including the Obbia and Coriole Basins, are expected to possess between 5 and 20 billion barrels of oil. These statistics, albeit theoretical, shed light on the massive energy resources that might be accessible off Somalia’s coast.
Somalia’s natural gas reserves are very large, with early estimates showing the nation may store up to 100 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas, with the Somali Basin possibly accounting for 40 tcf.
The effective discovery and exploitation of these minerals might fundamentally reshape Somalia’s economy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts oil and gas production may provide between $5 and $10 billion yearly in income for Somalia’s federal and regional governments, raising Somalia’s GDP by 7-10% annually. As a prospective energy exporter, Somalia would diminish East Africa’s dependency on Middle Eastern oil and gas while attracting investment from key world powers.
Energy production would give much-needed funding for development. Somalia’s infrastructure has been seriously damaged by decades of violence, with the World Bank predicting that over $10 billion would be required to repair the roads, ports, and pipelines essential for oil and gas extraction.
International oil companies, including Chevron, Eni, and ExxonMobil, studied Somalia’s resources as early as the 1950s. However, activities halted in 1991 when civil conflict started.
