MOGADISHU — The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of the Federal Government of Somalia, Dahir Shire, has welcomed a delegation led by the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, upon their arrival in Mogadishu.
The delegation landed at Aden Adde International Airport on Thursday, where they were received by Somali officials, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
Delegation Arrives for Ceremony
The Turkish delegation traveled to Somalia to participate in the welcoming ceremony for the oil drilling vessel Çağrı Bey, which docked at the Port of Mogadishu on Wednesday.
The vessel arrived following a 53-day journey from Mersin, Turkey, crossing the Mediterranean Sea, passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, traversing the Atlantic Ocean, and rounding the Cape of Good Hope before entering Somali waters.
Historic Energy Milestone
“This is a historic milestone in our offshore energy journey. A new chapter begins,” Shire stated.
The Çağrı Bey drillship, formerly known as the West Draco, is a sophisticated deep-sea drilling platform managed by the Turkish Petroleum Corporation. The vessel is expected to drill the Curad-1 well, located approximately 372 kilometers offshore from Mogadishu, at a target depth of 7,500 meters — ranking among the deepest offshore drilling efforts globally.
Welcoming Ceremony Underway
The welcoming ceremony for the Çağrı Bey is set to begin shortly at the Port of Mogadishu, with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud expected to preside over the event. Senior Somali government officials and the Turkish delegation, led by Minister Bayraktar, are in attendance.
The ceremony will officially mark the commencement of oil drilling operations in Somali waters, representing Turkey’s first deep-sea drilling mission abroad.
Strategic Energy Partnership
Turkey confirmed in December 2025 that exploratory drilling for oil and gas along Somalia’s maritime boundary was set to commence in 2026, following an extensive 3D seismic survey conducted by the Turkish research vessel Oruç Reis that produced promising outcomes. Turkish Energy Minister Bayraktar revealed that information gathered from three maritime zones, each spanning more than 5,000 square kilometers, indicated “significant potential” for substantial hydrocarbon deposits.
In February 2026, Somalia and Turkey significantly escalated their defense and economic cooperation when a high-ranking Turkish naval delegation and a fleet of vessels arrived in Mogadishu for maritime security talks focused on protecting national interests and offshore resources.
Commitment to Economic Transformation
Speaking exclusively to TRT Afrika ahead of the ceremony, Minister Shire emphasized the broader national importance of the project.
“This signals Somalia’s readiness to move into exploratory drilling, beginning with our most promising offshore prospects,” Shire said. “Somalia remains firmly committed to advancing its natural resource sector in a transparent, responsible, and internationally aligned manner, ensuring that its benefits contribute meaningfully to national prosperity and the well-being of its people.”
The operation is expected to last approximately 288 days. International research estimates suggest Somalia possesses billions of barrels of untapped petroleum reserves, and successful results could establish Somalia as an oil and gas producer, potentially transforming its economic path.
