This Agreement Is Somalia’s Historic Opportunity to Become a Petroleum-Producing Nation

Mogadishu – Eng. Karar Shukri Dhoomey, former Director General of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and currently the manager of a private oil and gas company, spoke to Gaylan Media regarding the recently signed Somalia–Turkey energy agreement. In his remarks, he offered key technical clarifications and stressed the importance of accurate public understanding amid widespread misinformation.

Dhoomey clarified that the signed document is a framework agreement, not yet a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). He noted that the actual PSA will be a comprehensive contract exceeding 200 pages, unlike the current 14-page framework which only outlines general principles.

He emphasized that the widely discussed 90% figure refers to cost recovery, a globally accepted norm in the petroleum industry. “This percentage simply reflects how quickly a company can recover its initial investment,” he explained. He further stated that the 5% mentioned in the agreement refers to a royalty, not a profit share.

Dhoomey highlighted that the Turkish government has taken on substantial risk by engaging in this venture, particularly during a time when global energy trends are shifting away from fossil fuels. He also pointed out that the agreement spans only five years, which is significantly shorter than the typical 25-year contracts seen in the oil sector due to the high cost and long-term nature of such investments.

He called on the Somali government to begin preparations for the upcoming PSA phase, including investments in human resource development and institutional capacity-building. According to Dhoomey, technical experts, not political figures, should be the ones informing the public on such matters.

He underlined the importance of transparency, public engagement, and institutional coordination, especially during this critical phase. The Turkish government, he added, has demonstrated its commitment and capability by delivering tangible results in a short timeframe and is well-equipped to advance the project.

Dhoomey also confirmed that drilling ships such as Fatih are planned to be deployed to Somali waters as part of the exploration efforts.

While acknowledging public skepticism and opposition, Dhoomey said that such concerns are rooted in a desire to protect national resources, which is valid—but stressed that the public must be equipped with factual and technical information, not misinformation.

He concluded by stating that this agreement represents Somalia’s most promising opportunity yet to become a petroleum-producing country, and that the Somali people should embrace and support this national endeavor.