Somalia says it is ready to begin its first offshore oil drilling operations, with a Turkish government-owned drilling ship expected to arrive off its coast on Friday.
The move follows the successful completion of seismic surveys last year by a Turkish research vessel.
In a post on X, Somalia's Petroleum Minister Dahir Shire described the move toward what would be the country's first offshore drilling as a "historic milestone in our offshore energy journey... A new chapter begins."
The foreign ministry said if the drilling were to be successful, it would unlock offshore oil reserves and support the country's economic recovery as a regional energy player.
The Turkish Petroleum Corporation's drilling ship, Çağrı Bey, is on its first international mission, heading into Somalia's territorial waters in the Arabian Sea.
It will carry out deep water drilling at sites identified by recent surveys that mapped the country's hydrocarbon potential.
"This signals Somalia's readiness to move into exploratory drilling, beginning with our most promising offshore prospects," Shire said.
He added that the country would ensure that the benefits of the oil drilling leads to national prosperity and improves the well-being of the people.
Turkey and Somalia formalised their cooperation in 2024 through a production-sharing agreement.
On Monday, Somali Foreign Minister Ali Omar said the oil drilling campaign would reinforce Turkey's role as a "trusted long-term partner" in development.
Speaking on Saturday ahead of his planned travel to Somalia, Turkey's Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said any discovery of oil or gas reserves would bring significant economic benefits to Somalia, East Africa and Turkey.
Ankara has been deepening its ties with Somalia and has invested in the country for more than a decade. It has also expanded its military presence there in recent years, where it already operates a major base built in 2017.
Researchers estimate the country holds billions of barrels of oil reserves, but exploration has been hampered by decades of conflict and political instability.
More BBC stories on Somalia:
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
BBC Africa podcasts
LATEST POSTS
- 1
James Webb Space Telescope watches our Milky Way galaxy's monster black hole fire out a flare - 2How food assistance programs can feed families and nourish their dignity
- 3Some Americans say they'll go without health insurance as ACA rates spike
- 4Zelensky names spy chief to head presidential office after corruption row
- 5The most effective method to Succeed in Your Web based Advertising Degree: Procedures for Progress
- German-Polish man charged with calling for attacks on top politicians
- Europe: 4 Urban communities for a Paramount Social Experience
- Viruses aren’t all bad: In the ocean, some help fuel the food web – a new study shows how
- Nodding off is dangerous. Some animals have evolved extreme ways to sleep in precarious environments
- As tetanus vaccination rates decline, doctors worry about rising case numbers
- Fundamental Home Machines for Improved Solace in Summer
- Can scientists detect life without knowing what it looks like? Research using machine learning offers a new way
- Doggie diversity in size and shape began at least 11,000 years ago
- 3 moms, 3 countries, 1 very familiar problem: Why child care costs still don't add up for families
