Strategic Partnership Aims to Boost Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production
Turkiye has embarked on a significant venture to explore hydrocarbon resources in three blocks off the coast of Somalia. Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, announced the initiative during a signing ceremony for the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production Agreement between Turkiye and Somalia. The event, held in Istanbul, also featured Somali Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Abdirizak Omar Mohamed.
In his address, Minister Bayraktar highlighted Turkiye’s advancements in deep-sea exploration, noting the country’s substantial deep-sea fleet. He pointed out that Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) has been conducting extensive exploration activities with four deep-sea drilling vessels and two seismic ships, leading to significant discoveries, including a major natural gas find in the Black Sea in August 2020.
Bayraktar revealed plans to send the seismic vessel Oruç Reis to Somali waters by the end of September, marking the start of crucial 3D seismic surveys in the three offshore blocks, each covering 5,000 square kilometers. The exploration efforts aim to transition into drilling and potential production, with a focus on oil and gas reserves in these deep-sea locations.
The agreement, signed by TPAO’s General Manager Ahmet Türkoğlu and Somali Petroleum Authority’s CEO Abdulkadir Aden Mohamud, grants Turkiye exclusive exploration and production rights in the specified blocks. This partnership is expected to strengthen bilateral relations and contribute to both nations’ energy sectors.
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz