Mogadishu (WDN) – Somalia and Turkey’s state-owned energy company, Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), are pressing ahead with drilling operations at the Curad-1 offshore exploration well, with officials expecting the first results of the exploration campaign by the end of 2026.

Located approximately 372 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu, Curad-1 is the first offshore oil exploration well to be drilled in Somalia, marking a significant milestone in the country’s long-awaited effort to develop its offshore hydrocarbon resources.

The project follows extensive 3D seismic surveys conducted across three offshore blocks, which identified promising geological structures and paved the way for exploratory drilling. The Curad-1 well is expected to reach a depth of nearly 7,500 meters, with drilling operations projected to take approximately 288 days.

Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Dahir Shire Mohamed, said drilling is progressing as planned. He noted that seismic data has already been analyzed and that the current phase focuses on testing Somalia’s first offshore exploration well to determine whether commercially viable hydrocarbon reserves exist.

Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, described the operation as Turkey’s first offshore drilling project outside its own territory, calling it a historic milestone in Ankara’s expanding global energy exploration strategy.

Somali officials view the project as a potentially transformative opportunity for the country’s economy. If commercially recoverable oil reserves are confirmed, offshore production could significantly boost government revenues, attract foreign investment, create employment opportunities, and strengthen Somalia’s long-term economic self-sufficiency.

However, officials caution that no official confirmation has yet been made regarding the discovery of commercially viable oil reserves. The well remains in the exploration phase, and a final assessment is expected only after drilling and technical evaluation have been completed.

The outcome of the Curad-1 project is being closely watched by both regional and international energy markets, as it could determine whether Somalia joins the ranks of East Africa’s emerging offshore oil producers.

WardheerNews