The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, today paid an official visit to the Turkish seismic exploration vessel Oruç Reis, which has been conducting oil and gas surveys off the coast of Somalia.
The vessel, which has been operating for 234 days as part of a broad energy cooperation initiative between Somalia and Turkey, officially completed its mission of surveying three offshore blocks. According to a statement from Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, the vessel collected 3D seismic data covering an area of 4,464 km².
While aboard the vessel, President Mohamud met with Turkish technical staff and officials involved in the operation. He expressed his deep appreciation for the efforts made by the Government of Turkey and the Oruç Reis crew, highlighting the strategic importance of the mission for Somalia’s future economic development.
“This is a major achievement that strengthens our goal for Somalia to fully benefit from its natural resources and convert them into economic opportunities and social development,” said the President.
The President also emphasized his administration’s commitment to utilizing the country’s natural resources to drive economic growth, create jobs, and attract both domestic and international investment.
“The Government and people of Turkey have always been at the forefront of initiatives that demonstrate Somalia’s potential for investment,” he added.
The Oruç Reis vessel is expected to depart the Port of Mogadishu on June 15, 2025, returning to Turkey, where the collected seismic data will undergo further analysis to determine the potential for future oil production in Somalia.
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