Somalia, Turkish petroleum company expect Curad-1 oil well results by end of 2026

Saturday July 18, 2026

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia and Türkiye’s state-owned oil company Turkish Petroleum (TPAO) are continuing to drill the Curad-1 oil well off Somalia’s coast, with officials saying the first exploration results are expected by the end of 2026.

Curad-1, located about 372 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu, is the first offshore oil well officially drilled in Somalia.

The operation follows a series of 3D seismic surveys conducted in three offshore blocks, which led to the start of drilling at the site.

The well is planned to reach a depth of nearly 7,500 meters and could take up to 288 days to complete, making it one of the deepest offshore oil wells in the world.

Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Minerals, Dahir Shire Mohamed, said drilling is underway and that previous exploration data has been analyzed.

He said the current focus is on testing the first offshore well.

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.

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.

However, officials have not announced any results confirming the presence of commercial oil reserves.

The well’s evaluation is expected to be completed after drilling is finished.