ISTANBUL, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye's planned deep-sea drilling project in Somalia could have a "game-changing impact" in the region, a Turkish official said on Saturday, unveiling details of the plan.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the planned drilling will be carried out in ultra-deep waters off the Somali coast, where sea depth reaches about 3,480 meters, followed by an additional 3,500 meters of drilling beneath the seabed.
He said the location selected shows strong indications of oil presence. "The activity we plan to carry out in Somalia is a project of a scale that could have a game-changing impact across the entire region. We are hopeful about it," he said.
Bayraktar said Türkiye's ultra-deepwater drillship Cagri Bey will carry out the project, its first overseas deep-sea drilling operation, in February.
Speaking at a joint press conference with visiting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Türkiye's plan to launch energy exploration activities in Somalia.
Erdogan also condemned Israel's recognition of Somaliland as "illegitimate and unacceptable," expressing support for "the unity and integrity of Somalia."
In 2024, Türkiye's state-owned energy company Turkish Petroleum and Somalia's petroleum authority signed a deal on joint onshore hydrocarbon exploration in Somalia. ■
