Turkey will conduct natural gas and oil exploration missions in Somali waters, deploying its research vessel Oruç Reis “in late September or early October,” the Turkish Energy Minister announced Thursday evening.
Deployment of Oruç Reis
“We are sending our vessel Oruç Reis to this region around late September or early October,” stated Minister Alparslan Bayraktar.
Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production Agreement
An agreement for “hydrocarbon exploration and production” has been signed between the two countries, outlining drilling in three zones, each spanning 5,000 km2. “Turkey will have an exclusive license to explore and produce oil here, when, God willing, we find it,” the minister added.
Previous Tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean
In the summer of 2020, Turkey sought to explore hydrocarbon deposits in the Eastern Mediterranean, leading to tensions with Greece and the European Union.
In August 2020, France deployed two Rafale fighter jets and two naval vessels to the Eastern Mediterranean alongside Greece, following the deployment of the Oruç Reis vessel in a disputed area between Ankara and Athens.