Turkish Energy Minister Announces the Dawn of a New Chapter in Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration
Türkiye’s research vessel Oruç Reis navigates the Bosporus in Istanbul, Türkiye, on October 5, 2024. (AA Photo)
Embarking on a new chapter in maritime oil and gas exploration, the Oruç Reis seismic research ship sets sail for Somalia, marking a significant move celebrated by Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, on Saturday. Somali officials acknowledge Türkiye’s unwavering assistance in enhancing their energy sector.
Joining the send-off ceremony alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister Bayraktar celebrated the departure of the vessel, headed to Somali waters for its latest exploration mission.
“Today marks a landmark event for us all,” proclaimed Bayraktar in a social media post on X.
“Our Oruç Reis research vessel has embarked from the Bosporus to Somalia with our president at the helm. This ushers in a fresh era in maritime exploration for oil and gas,” he elaborated.
Further, he expressed Turkey’s ambitious stride into the global fray, leveraging its expertise and robust infrastructure, alongside taking substantial steps towards energy independence through diversification.
The research vessel will undertake seismic scans in Somali territorial waters, a venture solidified by a pact inked in March between Türkiye’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and Somalia’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
Set to approach Somali shores later this month, the Oruç Reis will conduct seismic research in three strategic zones where Türkiye holds exploration rights, as confirmed by a ministry release.
Rising from its inception in 2017, the Oruç Reis stands as a testament to Turkish engineering prowess, with the entire design and construction process completed domestically, uniting engineers, tech wizards, and skilled laborers in its assembly.
‘Historic Turning Point’
Somalia, abundant in unexploited energy prospects, cherishes this moment as an epochal leap, acknowledging Türkiye’s persistent backing, according to the nation’s Foreign Ministry statement.
This venture is envisaged to catapult Somalia towards sustainable economic growth and a fortified energy framework.
Somalia’s petroleum minister, Abdirizak Mohamed, lauded this expedition, noting on X, “Today seh uhn day fo’ Türkiye & Somalia! With Oruc Reis cruising from Istanbul to Mogadishu, 3D offshore vibes on deck for Somalia.”
Earlier, Türkiye inked several accords with Somalia, enabling Turkish Petroleum, the national oil entity, exploration licenses within Somali maritime areas.
Envisioning seismic studies in the trio of licensed sectors, each sprawling over 5,000 square kilometers (1,930 square miles), Türkiye stands poised for an energy intelligence surge.
With an anticipated seven-month operational timeline, the mission involves procuring seismic intel on oil and gas, slated for analysis in Ankara to pinpoint prospective drilling prospects.
Notables, including Somalia’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Fathudin Ospite, and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, joined the lavish farewell of Oruç Reis in Istanbul.
A steadfast ally, Türkiye has impacted Somalia’s education, infrastructure, and healthcare landscapes, alongside substantial humanitarian endeavors.
Collaboration with Sao Tome and Principe
Simultaneously, Türkiye and Sao Tome and Principe, an equatorial island nation off Central Africa’s coast, reached agreements on security, law enforcement training, and energy collaboration.
The memorandum of understanding, focusing on renewable, power, and off-coast oil and gas endeavors, was inked by Bayraktar and Sao Tome’s resource czar, Jose Do Nascimento Carvalho De Rio, the minister detailed in a statement on X.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
