Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Mr. Alparslan Bayraktar, is currently on an official working visit to Somalia. During a ceremony in Mogadishu, he announced the start of oil drilling in the shores of Somalia, calling it a historic step that will open a new chapter in the energy sector. Bayraktar emphasized that this project is a result of deepening cooperation between Somalia and Turkey, and reflects the mutual desire and determination of both countries. He also revealed that the Turkish vessel, Oruc Reis, has been conducting oil exploration in Somalia’s sea for the past seven months, collecting information from a distance of 4,500 km. This has shown promising prospects for oil in the region, leading to the commencement of drilling the first oil well, named “Curad 1,” which is located 370 km from Mogadishu and will be drilled to a depth of 7,500 meters – making it the deepest oil well in the world. Bayraktar further disclosed that the drilling will be carried out by the vessel Cagri Bey, which will be the first to conduct seismic oil drilling outside of Turkish soil. This operation marks Turkey’s official entry into the group of countries that carry out deep-sea seismic oil drilling. He also announced that at least 500 employees will be involved in the drilling process, with plans to complete it within six to nine months, depending on weather conditions. Bayraktar expressed optimism that the operation will yield positive results, and that good news can be expected in the coming months regarding the production of fuel. This will not only benefit the Somali people but also contribute to regional stability.
