MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, H.E. Daahir Shire Mohamed, has announced that Somalia’s energy sector is actively attracting major international investment beyond its strategic partnership with Turkey, citing the smooth and incident-free commencement of exploration activities as proof of the country’s stability.
In a detailed press briefing, the Minister addressed questions regarding the diversity of international partners in Somalia’s resource sector. He confirmed that while the government has a robust defense and economic cooperation agreement with Turkey, other major global players, specifically from the United States, have already secured Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs).
“There are indeed other companies,” Minister Mohamed stated. “We have signed agreements for seven blocks with Coastline Exploration and three blocks with Liberty Petroleum, a U.S.-based company. These agreements are active and proceeding according to plan.”
A key highlight of the Minister’s address was the confirmation that ongoing offshore operations, including the high-profile seismic surveys conducted under the Somali-Turkish cooperation, have faced zero security challenges.
“The implementation of the Turkish agreement is well underway, and I can confirm that not a single security incident has occurred during these operations,” the Minister emphasized. This statement serves to debunk lingering international concerns and signals to potential investors that Somalia’s maritime domain is secure for complex exploration, extraction, and marketing activities.
Beyond petroleum, the Minister outlined new measures to professionalize the mining sector and curb illegal extraction.
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Crackdown on Illegal Mining: The Federal Government is launching operations to stop unregulated depletion of resources in regions such as Galmudug and Bari, ensuring all extraction is licensed and benefits the national treasury.
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New National Laboratory: The Ministry announced plans to establish a state-of-the-art national laboratory. This facility will allow Somali citizens and companies to scientifically verify the type and value of minerals found within the country, eliminating the need to send samples abroad and reducing the risk of fraud.
The Minister concluded by reiterating that Somalia is “open for business,” with a legal framework and security environment now capable of supporting large-scale energy projects that promise to transform the nation’s economy.
