Turkey Embarks on Oil and Gas Exploration Off Somalia's Coast

ANKARA - Turkey's seismic research vessel, Oruc Reis, is poised to set sail this weekend for Somali waters, marking the start of an ambitious oil and natural gas exploration project, Turkey's Energy Ministry disclosed on Thursday.

The mission, initiated under a bilateral agreement signed in March, will cover an expanse of around 5,000 square kilometers in search of potential hydrocarbon reserves. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will participate in the vessel's send-off ceremony on Saturday, highlighting Turkey's commitment to this strategic partnership with Somalia.

This exploration venture, which allows Turkish Petroleum to secure exploration rights in three maritime blocks, forms part of Turkey's wider international energy strategy, aiming at diversifying its energy sources.

The cooperative effort is anticipated to strengthen Turkey-Somalia relations, offering economic benefits and potentially reducing regional tensions by focusing on economic development rather than conflict.

The Oruc Reis, once a point of contention in the Mediterranean, now shifts its focus to the promising yet less disputed waters off Somalia's coast.

GAROWE ONLINE