Monday June 16, 2025

FILE — The Turkish seismic exploration vessel Oruc Reis

Mogadishu (HOL) —  The Turkish seismic exploration vessel Oruc Reis has completed a 234-day mission collecting seismic data over 4,464 square kilometres in three offshore blocks in Somali waters, Turkish officials said Monday. The vessel has departed the Port of Mogadishu and is expected to reach Türkiye’s Black Sea port of Filyos in early July after passing through the Suez Canal and Bosphorus Strait.

Data collected during the mission will be analyzed in Ankara to identify promising sites for oil and natural gas drilling, marking a key milestone in Somalia’s efforts to develop its energy resources.

The Oruc Reis was dispatched to Somalia on Oct. 5, 2024, by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as part of a production-sharing agreement between the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and Somalia’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. The agreement supports Somalia’s commitment to transparent and sustainable resource development.

Somalia’s Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi praised the successful mission during a luncheon honouring the crew in Mogadishu. “This is not just an economic milestone; it is a declaration of sovereignty and national strength,” he said, emphasizing Somalia’s growing institutional capacity.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud toured the vessel on June 12, commending the Turkish crew and highlighting the strategic partnership between Somalia and Türkiye. “This achievement reinforces our objective to fully harness natural resources for economic and social progress,” he said.

In April, Somalia and Türkiye signed an agreement expanding TPAO’s exploration rights to three onshore blocks covering about 16,000 square kilometres, further deepening bilateral cooperation. This follows the earlier offshore exploration efforts and illustrates the deepening of bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.

Both nations anticipate that these initiatives will pave the way for Somalia’s first oil production by late 2025 or early 2026, potentially transforming the country’s economic landscape.

The strategic partnership between Somalia and Türkiye has grown substantially in recent years, extending well beyond energy cooperation. This multifaceted relationship includes defense collaboration, infrastructure development, and humanitarian support. Notably, Türkiye has established a military training base in Mogadishu to strengthen Somalia’s security forces and pledged additional deployment of troops to assist with regional stability. 

The Oruc Reis will undergo maintenance and repairs at Filyos Port before embarking on its next mission.