Key Points:
- Turkey deployed the Cagri Bey vessel to Somalia on Sunday.
- This is Ankara’s first deep-sea mission outside its own waters.
- Three naval warships will escort the vessel for protection.
- Turkey aims to produce 500,000 barrels of oil daily by 2028.
Turkey officially launched a major new energy mission on Sunday. The government sent its deep-sea drilling ship, the Cagri Bey, on a long journey to the coast of Somalia. This marks a significant change for the country, as it is the first time Turkey has engaged in an offshore exploration mission outside of its own maritime borders.
Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced the departure at a ceremony held at Tasucu port in the southern province of Mersin. He described the event as a “historic moment” for the nation’s energy ambitions. The government hopes this move will secure new sources of oil and gas to fuel the country’s growing economy.
The Cagri Bey is a recent addition to Turkey’s drilling fleet. It has a long trip ahead. Minister Bayraktar stated that the ship will travel for approximately 45 days before it reaches its destination in the Horn of Africa. Once it arrives, the crew will prepare the equipment to start working.
Actual drilling operations are expected to begin in April. The ship will focus its efforts on a site known as the Curad-1 well. Because the mission is high-profile and vital to national interests, the vessel will not travel alone. Three Turkish naval warships are escorting the Cagri Bey to ensure its safety during the transit and operations.
This mission is part of a much larger plan. Turkey has set aggressive targets for its energy production. Bayraktar revealed that the country aims to produce 500,000 barrels of oil—or the equivalent in other hydrocarbons—every single day by the year 2028.
To reach that massive number, Turkey knows it cannot rely solely on resources found at home. The government expects to generate about half of that target through discoveries and agreements made in other countries. This partnership with Somalia represents a key step in that strategy. By sharing production rights abroad, Ankara hopes to double its energy output capabilities in the near future.
