Türkiye, Somalia announce oil and gas exploration agreement

Somalia and Turkey announced the signing of an oil and gas exploration agreement, further strengthening cooperation between the two countries, according to officials from both countries.

Abdirizak Mohamed, Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, said the agreement, signed in Turkey on Thursday, aims to promote the development of bilateral scientific, technical and commercial cooperation between Turkey and Somalia in the development of Somali oil and gas. .

Mohammed said Turkey will explore for oil and natural gas onshore and offshore in Somalia.

“Turkey will conduct oil exploration, evaluation, development and production in onshore and offshore blocks in the Federal Republic of Somalia, as well as distribution and perhaps refinery sales of oil and products and services related to these projects,” Mohammed told the U.S. Voice Somali.

“So, even though we haven’t signed the PSA yet, it’s very comprehensive [production-sharing agreement] However. “

Mohammed said the agreement was one of the protocols of the Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement reached last month by the two countries.

Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said that under the ten-year agreement, Turkey will build, train and equip the Somali navy.

Mohamed said a follow-up agreement would include details of a production-sharing agreement and a timeline for the deal.

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Baraktar also welcomed the agreement.

He posted on Collaboration in the Natural Gas Sector.” . Formerly known as Twitter.

“Under this agreement, we will carry out joint activities to bring Somalia’s resources to the Somali people. We aim to strengthen Turkey’s presence in the Horn of Africa through new cooperation in the energy sector.”

Turkey has been Somalia’s main partner since then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Somalia in 2011 during a period of severe famine. Since then, Türkiye has been providing humanitarian aid and budget support to Somalia.

In September 2017, Turkey opened a large military facility to train Somali security forces. On Thursday, the latest group of students graduated from the facility.

“Turkey is one of our allies, one of our friends, and when they were in Somalia, every other country ignored that and gave no support,” Mohammed said. “So this agreement will only deepen and strengthen the deep relationship between the two countries.”