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Commodities•7 April 2026•

1 min read

Somalia to Launch First Offshore Oil Drilling with Turkish Support

Digital illustration of oil market dynamics with US and Iran maps, oil rigs, refineries, price charts, and a rising green arrow, with oil barrels in the foreground.

Key Facts

1The Turkish drillship Çagir Bey arrived in Somali waters to begin its first international mission.

2Drilling is expected to commence at the Curad-1 well during the current month of April.

3Seismic data suggests Somalia’s offshore basins could hold between 30 billion and 40 billion barrels of oil and gas equivalent.

Somalia is set to begin its first-ever offshore oil drilling operation this April, marking a significant milestone for the nation's energy sector. The Turkish drillship Çagir Bey has arrived in Somali waters to initiate the drilling of the Curad-1 well as part of its first international mission. This development follows a strategic maritime and energy agreement between Somalia and Türkiye, with the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) leading the exploration efforts. Preliminary seismic data indicates that Somalia’s offshore basins could hold vast reserves, estimated between 30 billion and 40 billion barrels of oil and gas equivalent. While the discovery could be globally significant, the project is currently in the exploration phase, meaning actual production is still several years away. Market analysts are monitoring the development for its long-term impact on regional energy dynamics and Türkiye's expanding energy footprint in Africa.