A Turkish seismic research vessel is scheduled to arrive off the coast of Somalia at the end of October to begin oil and natural gas exploration, following a recent agreement on energy cooperation between the two countries, according to Turkey’s energy ministry on Thursday.
The agreement, reached in March, facilitates oil exploration and production and grants Turkish Petroleum licenses for three areas within Somali waters.
The vessel, Oruc Reis, will conduct operations across approximately 5,000 square kilometres (1,930 square miles). Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced that President Tayyip Erdogan will attend a ceremony in Turkey on Saturday to commemorate the ship’s departure.
“We predict that the area where Oruc Reis will work is a region with oil prospects,” Bayraktar stated in the announcement. The vessel will be accompanied by two navy frigates and additional support ships, making its way to offshore Somalia via the Mediterranean Sea, Suez Canal, and Red Sea.
Bayraktar also mentioned that Turkish Petroleum holds exploration licenses for a maritime jurisdiction area divided into three fields, encompassing a total of 15,000 square kilometres. The three-dimensional seismic study is anticipated to last around seven months.