Turkish Drillship Arrives in Mogadishu, Set to Begin Somalia’s First Offshore Drilling

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: — The Turkish deep-water drilling vessel Çağrı Bey drillship has arrived off the coast of Mogadishu, positioning Somalia to begin its first-ever offshore oil and gas drilling campaign following the completion of seismic surveys conducted last year.

The vessel, operated by Turkish Petroleum Corporation, completed its transit from Türkiye and is expected to undergo final preparations before moving to designated offshore blocks where drilling activities will commence.

Senior officials from the Federal Government are preparing to receive the vessel at the Port of Mogadishu in a formal ceremony expected to mark the transition from exploration studies to active drilling operations.

From Seismic Data to Drill Bit

The upcoming drilling phase follows the completion of offshore seismic surveys carried out in 2025 under the Somalia–Türkiye energy cooperation framework. These surveys, which involved advanced 2D and 3D imaging of subsurface geological structures, identified potential hydrocarbon-bearing formations along sections of Somalia’s coastline.

The data gathered during this phase provided the technical basis for selecting drilling locations, particularly in offshore areas near Galmudug State, where initial findings indicated promising prospects.

Drilling now becomes the critical next step in determining whether those prospects translate into commercially viable oil and gas reserves.

A Defining Moment for Somalia’s Energy Sector

The deployment of the Çağrı Bey marks a significant milestone in Somalia’s long-delayed entry into offshore hydrocarbon exploration. For decades, insecurity and institutional challenges hindered efforts to explore the country’s estimated petroleum potential.

This latest development reflects a growing partnership between Mogadishu and Ankara, with Türkiye providing both technical expertise and operational capacity through TPAO.

If successful, the drilling campaign could pave the way for further investment, appraisal of reserves, and eventual development of Somalia’s offshore energy resources.