Turkey Enters East African Energy Market: Invests in Oil and Gas Exploration off Somalia Coast.

Turkey has sent its research vessel Oruç Reis to the coast of Somalia, where it will conduct exploration for oil and gas deposits. Two frigates of the Turkish Navy are accompanying the vessel.

This was reported by Ukrinform with reference to the Directorate of Communications of the Turkish President's Administration.

"I hope you demonstrate Turkish-Somali brotherhood in open seas with both our frigates and support ships. I wish you success... I believe that together with our Somali brothers we will make a very important step in our seismic studies and drilling operations," addressed the crews of the ships Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The research vessel will reach the Somali coast at the end of October. According to a memorandum of understanding signed by the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Somali Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in March this year, hydrocarbon exploration will be conducted by this vessel.

Seismic studies and the search for oil and natural gas will be carried out in three licensed maritime areas, each with an area of 5,000 square kilometers. The mission is planned to be conducted over seven months. After analyzing the obtained data in Ankara, drilling operations will begin in designated areas depending on the results.

During the mission, the vessel Oruç Reis will be accompanied by two frigates of the Turkish Naval Forces, as well as the support ship Zağanos Paşa, the support platform ship Sancar, and the surveillance ship Ataman.

The ships will travel to the coast of Somalia through the Mediterranean Sea, the Suez Canal, and the Red Sea.