Somalia’s Offshore Oil Plans Need Independent Environmental Impact Review

By Ali Mohamed AliWednesday April 1, 2026

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Somalia’s push to open its offshore waters to Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) could come at a steep environmental cost unless the country insists on a rigorous Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) carried out by an independent, technically qualified firm.

Context: Planned Drilling by TPAO

Somalia has already awarded TPAO exclusive rights to multiple offshore and onshore oil and gas blocks after the company completed extensive 2D and 3D seismic surveys and conducted early exploration work in Somali waters. The arrangement is intended to tap what officials and investors say could be significant offshore hydrocarbon reserves and to support broader economic recovery.

Key Environmental Risks Without Proper ESIA

If drilling moves ahead without a strong ESIA, several risks would become immediate and potentially severe:

Oil spills and blowouts: Accidents at offshore rigs can discharge massive amounts of oil, coating coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds while inflicting lasting harm on fish stocks that coastal Somali communities rely on for income and food security.

Marine biodiversity loss: Somalia’s Indian Ocean waters support migratory fish, marine mammals and delicate benthic habitats that can be disturbed by drilling, waste discharge, underwater noise and heavy vessel traffic.

Coastal pollution: Poor oversight of produced water, drilling muds and solid waste can contaminate beaches and nearby fishing grounds, weakening tourism prospects and undermining traditional coastal livelihoods.

Cumulative and transboundary impacts: Several offshore blocks, seismic operations and pipelines may produce combined effects that stretch along the wider Horn of Africa coastline, impacts that only a high-quality ESIA can properly assess and manage.

Climate and disaster vulnerability: Oil infrastructure along a fragile coastline would add exposure to storm damage, leaks and emergency incidents in a country already wrestling with climate shocks and governance constraints.

Why Independence and Professionalism Matter

Critics of the TPAO arrangement have already raised concerns about transparency, sovereignty and environmental protections built into the current hydrocarbons deals. When an ESIA is shaped by project proponents or institutions subject to political pressure, the danger is clear: impacts may be understated, community consultation may be skipped, and mitigation and monitoring plans may be watered down.

An independent professional company like Greencurve can:

Apply international ESIA standards and IFC/World Bank safeguards, ensuring offshore operations are judged against best practice rather than the bare minimum required by local rules.

Carry out objective baseline studies of marine ecosystems, fisheries and coastal social conditions, providing a reliable reference point for tracking and responding to future damage.

Lead broad stakeholder engagement with fishing communities, coastal municipalities, women and youth groups, and civil society so that local experience and concerns inform project design.

Develop practical mitigation measures, emergency response systems and oil-spill contingency plans, with defined responsibilities, financing and monitoring indicators that both regulators and the public can follow.

Conclusion: ESIA as a Safeguard, Not a Formality

Somalia’s emerging oil and gas sector may offer new revenue streams, but without an independent and technically credible ESIA process led by qualified firms such as Greencurve, the country risks exchanging short-term gains for long-term, possibly irreversible environmental and social harm. A transparent and professional ESIA is therefore more than a regulatory box to check; it is a national safeguard for Somalia’s marine ecosystems, coastal communities and future generations.

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By ALI MOHAMED ALI is the CEO of GREENCURVE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES. He can be reached at [email protected]