Türkiye reaffirms energy-sector support to Somali minister Tahir Shire

Türkiye’s ambassador to Somalia, Ferhat Alkan, discussed with Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tahir Shire Mohamed joint projects to harness Somalia’s energy resources for its economy and people’s welfare, as well as developing technical capabilities in the sector.

Türkiye’s ambassador to Somalia, Ferhat Alkan, paid a courtesy visit to Tahir Shire Mohamed, the federal Somali government’s minister of petroleum and mineral resources. They discussed the current state and future prospects of Türkiye-Somalia cooperation in the energy sector.

The Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu said the two sides discussed joint projects aimed at harnessing Somalia’s energy resources to serve the country’s economy and the welfare of the Somali people, as well as opportunities to develop technical capabilities. They also exchanged views on the activities of Türkiye’s ultra-deepwater drilling platform Çağrı Bey, which continues to explore for hydrocarbons off the Somali coast.

Photos of the meeting showed a large image of Türkiye’s seismic survey vessel Oruç Reis hanging in the minister’s office. According to Türkiye’s Ministry of Energy, the vessel collected three-dimensional seismic data across 4500 square kilometers in three concession areas off Somalia over approximately seven months.

السفير فرحات ألكان ووزير البترول الصومالي طاهر شري محمد مع أعضاء الوفدين

Rock samples undergo joint analysis

Last week, Somali Petroleum Authority Chairman Abdulqadir Aden Mohamed said in an interview with Somali National Television, carried by Daawan Africa, that drilling at the Korad-1 well had passed through Late Cretaceous layers and entered the Early Cretaceous, where “indications of oil begin to appear.”

He said 18 core samples had already arrived and 15 more were on the way, adding that Turkish experts and the authority were analyzing them jointly. He expressed hope that the target depth would be reached in December. Drilling at the well, located about 372 kilometers from Mogadishu, began in April under the leadership of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO).

The embassy confirmed that Türkiye would continue supporting Somalia’s efforts to develop its natural resources and institutional and technical capabilities in the energy sector, and to achieve sustainable development goals through joint projects. It thanked the minister for his strong support for cooperation between the two countries in this field.

Photos: Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Mogadishu

Türkiye reaffirms energy-sector support to Somali minister Tahir Shire