Somalia’s First Offshore Oil Well Hits Critical Zone, Petroleum Authority Says

MOGADISHU, 29 October 2026 Drilling of Somalia’s first offshore oil well has entered the geological layers where signs of possible oil begin to appear, the Chairman of the Somali Petroleum Authority, Eng. Abdulkadir Aden Mohamed, has said.

In an interview with Somali National Television, on Wednesday, the Chairman said drilling has passed the Late Cretaceous layer and is now entering the Early Cretaceous layer — where indications of oil begin to appear.

“This is where the signs showing that oil is present begin. The deeper you drill, the more encouragement you get that there is oil there. You are now standing at the critical point,” he said.

He said the remaining 2,000 metres are the most important and the target is expected to be reached in December.

“We hope to reach the target in December, God willing, and we hope no further obstacles occur,” he said.

He noted that little could be determined from the earlier 2,000-metre section, which was a sedimentary layer, but samples taken from it are now ready for analysis.