Mogadishu, Somalia – TGS has renewed its data marketing and licensing agreement with the Somali Petroleum Authority, indicating sustained international interest in Somalia’s offshore oil prospects. The renewal grants TGS ongoing rights to market and license its comprehensive geophysical datasets, spanning substantial portions of Somalia’s offshore basins.
The company holds exclusive rights to license over 46,000 line-kilometers of contemporary 2D seismic data and more than 50,000 kilometers of aeromagnetic surveys. These datasets prove vital for explorers in screening basins, pinpointing leads and prospects, and grasping the geological makeup of one of the planet’s least explored offshore areas.
TGS stated that its renewed involvement aids the government in progressing offshore licensing.
“This extension further underscores our long-term commitment to the Federal Republic of Somalia and its offshore licensing program,” said David Hajovsky, the firm’s Executive Vice President for Multi-Client.
He added that the company’s seismic and aeromagnetic library bolsters the institutional capabilities of both the Petroleum Authority and the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
A Sector Attracting Greater International Focus
This agreement arrives amid rising activity in Somalia’s offshore sector. Although TGS has long been involved, the field is now drawing fresh participants.
Turkey stands out as one of the most notable recent entrants. In 2025, the Turkish government finished a 3D seismic survey in Somalia’s offshore waters, representing one of the most sophisticated data collection initiatives in the nation’s history. This led to a contract signing between the Turkish national oil company and the Somali Petroleum Authority, establishing Turkey as a prospective operator in Somalia’s deep-water exploration efforts.
Other global companies have pursued initial exploration via speculative surveys, basin analyses, or involvement in regulatory discussions linked to the Petroleum Act and Production Sharing Agreements. These steps collectively suggest a gradual yet consistent rise in attention toward Somalia’s underexplored offshore blocks.
Industry experts view TGS’s renewed deal as a sign of faith in the basin’s enduring promise. As Somalia seeks to draw upstream investments, ensuring availability of top-tier geophysical data remains a vital base. Through this extension, TGS continues as a primary force influencing how firms assess the nation’s developing offshore oil frontier.
