Sunday April 12, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Minerals, Dahir Shire Mohamed, said Saturday that the Curad-1 exploratory well will be drilled offshore in Galmudug State, between the coastal towns of Mareeg and Harardheere, about 275 kilometers (171 miles) from land.
The minister said the site lies in deep waters far from the shoreline, underscoring that the operation will take place “very far from land.”
The announcement comes as Somalia prepares to begin its first offshore deep-water drilling campaign following the arrival of the Turkish drillship Çağrı Bey in Mogadishu.
Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Ministry said the vessel is scheduled to drill the Curad-1 well at a depth of approximately 7,500 meters (24,600 feet). The operation is expected to last 288 days.
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has described the mission as Ankara’s first overseas deep-sea drilling operation, calling it a historic milestone in Türkiye’s expanding energy exploration efforts abroad.
The drilling follows seismic surveys conducted in Somali waters under a bilateral energy agreement signed between Mogadishu and Ankara in 2024, covering both onshore and offshore exploration blocks.
Somali officials have framed the project as a potential turning point for the country’s economy, which has long struggled with instability and limited domestic revenue. Authorities say any commercial discovery could boost state income, attract foreign investment and strengthen fiscal independence.
The government has pledged that any future hydrocarbon revenues will be managed transparently and used to fund social services and development projects.
Curad-1 will be the first well drilled under Somalia’s renewed offshore exploration push, marking a significant step in the country’s effort to assess its untapped maritime energy potential.
