Türkiye plans to launch oil exploration operations in Somali waters using its drilling ship the Cagri Bey as it aims to increase its activities in oil and natural gas both domestically and overseas.
Türkiye Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar confirmed this expanded focus during remarks at a ruling Justice and Development Party event in Ankara, reported Türkiye Today.
Bayraktar said: “Tomorrow, we will take another historic step. We will send off our Cagri Bey ship from Mersin Tasucu to Somalia, and we will search for oil in Somalia. In this sense, 2026 will be a year of discoveries, a year of good news for us.”
Drilling activities off the coast of Somalia are scheduled to commence between April and May of this year.
The Cagri Bey vessel, built in 2024 and flying the Turkish flag, is currently located in the Eastern Mediterranean. It is en route to Cape Town, South Africa, and is expected to arrive on 19 March, before proceeding to Somalia.
Security for the drilling operations will be handled by the Turkish Naval Forces Command. Naval units the TCG Sancaktar, TCG Bafra, and TCG Gokova are expected to support the Somalia Turkish Task Force Command and carry out research within the Somali maritime jurisdiction.
These ships will remain active until 25 February in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia’s coast and in the Arabian Sea, as part of the operation’s support measures.
Bayraktar also highlighted domestic exploration efforts, saying Black Sea gas remains a priority and that Türkiye will continue drilling there while stepping up the search for new discoveries. He added that this year the country will conduct offshore drilling along the Black Sea coast, including the waters off Rize, Giresun, Ordu, Samsun and Kastamonu.
Apart from the Cagri Bey, Türkiye has expanded its deep-sea drilling fleet with the Yildirim, another seventh-generation vessel.
Türkiye’s exploration work has also advanced beyond its own waters. Last year, the seismic research vessel Oruç Reis conducted 3D surveys across three offshore blocks spanning 4,465km² in Somalia’s territorial waters, laying the groundwork for the drilling now under way.
Upcoming projects include planned seismic surveys in Pakistan using either the Oruc Reis or Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa vessels.
In addition, Ankara is preparing to participate in a licensing tender in Libya next month as it targets new energy projects through recently acquired fields.
In September 2025, Türkiye signed several agreements aimed at diversifying its natural gas sources for the medium term. Through these arrangements, the country secured around 15 billion cubic metres of liquefied natural gas for delivery from 2026 to 2028.
