By Ali Mohamed Ali
Wednesday April 1, 2026
Illustrative photo
The planned offshore oil drilling by Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) in Somalia carries significant environmental risks if a rigorous Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is not conducted by an independent and professionally competent firm.
Context: Planned Drilling by TPAO
Key Environmental Risks Without Proper ESIA
If drilling proceeds without a robust ESIA, the following risks become acute:
Oil spills and blowouts: Offshore drilling accidents can release large volumes of oil, smothering coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds and severely damaging fish stocks that coastal Somali communities depend on for livelihoods and food security.
Marine biodiversity loss: Somalia’s Indian Ocean waters host migratory fish, marine mammals and sensitive benthic habitats that can be disrupted by drilling, waste discharge, underwater noise and vessel traffic.
Coastal pollution: Weak controls on produced water, drilling muds and solid waste can contaminate beaches and nearshore fishing grounds, undermining tourism potential and traditional coastal economies.
Cumulative and transboundary impacts: Multiple offshore blocks, seismic surveys and pipelines can have combined effects that extend along the wider Horn of Africa coastline, which only a high‑quality ESIA can properly model and manage.
Climate and disaster vulnerability: Oil infrastructure near a fragile coastline increases exposure to storm damage, leakage and emergencies in a country already highly vulnerable to climate shocks and governance challenges.
Why Independence and Professionalism Matter
Critics of the TPAO deal have already highlighted concerns over transparency, sovereignty and environmental safeguards in the current hydrocarbons arrangements. When ESIA is controlled by project proponents or politically influenced institutions, there is a high risk of underestimating impacts, bypassing community consultation and weakening mitigation and monitoring plans.
An independent professional company like Greencurve can:
Apply international ESIA standards and IFC/World Bank safeguards, ensuring that offshore operations meet best practice rather than minimum local compliance.
Conduct objective baseline surveys of marine ecosystems, fisheries and coastal social conditions, creating a credible reference to detect and address damage over time.
Lead inclusive stakeholder engagement with fishing communities, coastal municipalities, women and youth groups, and civil society so that local knowledge and concerns shape project design.
Design realistic mitigation, emergency response and oil‑spill contingency plans, with clear responsibilities, funding and monitoring indicators that regulators and the public can track.
Conclusion: ESIA as a Safeguard, Not a Formality
Somalia’s emerging oil and gas sector may bring revenues, but without an independent, technically sound ESIA process led by qualified firms such as Greencurve, the country risks trading short‑term gains for long‑term and potentially irreversible environmental and social damage. Ensuring transparent, professional ESIA is therefore not just a regulatory requirement but a national safeguard for Somalia’s marine ecosystems, coastal communities and future generations.
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By ALI MOHAMED ALI is the CEO of GREENCURVE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.
He can be reached at [email protected]
