Turkey Petroleum will commence oil and gas exploration activities in three onshore areas in Somalia in the coming months. A signing ceremony for a hydrocarbon exploration and production agreement in Somali land areas between Turkey and Somalia took place. The ceremony was attended by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Somali Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Dahir Shire Mohamed. Following the ceremony, Bayraktar commented that with today’s agreement, a new link has been added to the offshore works, stating, “With the signatures we just placed in your presence, a partnership has been established between Turkey Petroleum and the Somali Petroleum Authority in onshore areas.” Referring to the production sharing agreement, Bayraktar said, “Turkey Petroleum will hopefully start activities related to oil and gas exploration in those areas of approximately 16,000 square kilometers in the upcoming months.” Bayraktar added: “Initial seismic studies will be conducted, followed swiftly by drilling activities to identify and begin production in the oil and gas fields in those areas. In this sense, this exemplary cooperation between the two countries is continuing to strengthen. I have discussed with my esteemed brother. Hopefully, in the next phase, we aim to develop concrete projects with minerals in Somalia.” INTERNATIONAL NATURAL RESOURCES SUMMIT Minister Bayraktar mentioned that under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the International Natural Resources Summit will be held in Istanbul on May 2, bringing together ministers and relevant companies from around the world to enhance cooperation on Turkey’s characteristics related to oil, natural gas, and minerals. in taking partnerships one step further. We will hopefully organize an event towards this goal.”