Turkey Petroleum will begin exploration activities for oil and gas in three onshore areas in Somalia in the coming months. An agreement for hydrocarbon exploration and production in Somali onshore areas was signed between Turkey and Somalia. The signing 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 emphasized that with today’s agreement, a new phase has been added to offshore activities, stating, “With the signatures we just put in front of you, a partnership has been established between Turkey Petroleum and the Somali Petroleum Authority for onshore areas.” Referring to the production sharing agreement, Bayraktar said, “In approximately 16,000 square kilometers of three onshore areas, Turkey Petroleum will hopefully start activities related to oil and gas exploration there in the coming months.” Bayraktar added, “Initially, seismic surveys will be conducted, followed by drilling activities to identify and develop oil and gas fields in those areas quickly. In this sense, this exemplary cooperation between the two countries continues to strengthen. I have discussed with my esteemed brother. Hopefully, in the next stage, we aim to develop concrete projects with minerals in Somalia.” INTERNATIONAL NATURAL RESOURCES SUMMIT Minister Bayraktar stated that under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the International Natural Resources Summit will be held in Istanbul on May 2nd, bringing together ministers and relevant companies from various parts of the world to further advance cooperation in Turkey’s characteristics, as well as oil, natural gas, and mineral-related collaborations.