By Ayomide Otitoju
A high-level Turkish delegation will participate in African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies, scheduled for September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town. Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Ahmet Berat Çonkar, is expected to deliver remarks, underscoring Ankara’s growing footprint in Africa’s energy and mining sectors.
In recent years, Turkey has intensified efforts to secure a lasting presence in Africa’s hydrocarbon and mineral industries. In April 2025, Ankara signed a landmark agreement with Somalia granting the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) exploration rights over three onshore oil and gas blocks spanning 16,000 km². The deal, which includes seismic studies and drilling, offers significant cost recovery rights and low royalty obligations. Turkey has also signaled interest in Somalia’s mining sector, aiming to access critical minerals vital to the global energy transition.
Turkey’s expansion extends to North Africa, where TPAO and Libya’s National Oil Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2025 to explore offshore maritime areas south of the median line between Greece and Libya. The project will generate 10,000 km of seismic data over nine months.
Beyond the Horn and North Africa, Ankara is strengthening ties in West and Southern Africa. A late 2024 memorandum with Senegal opened new avenues for oil, gas, and mineral cooperation, while Turkish private firm ALP24 has launched ventures across Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia involving hydrocarbons and minerals such as diamonds, copper, and cobalt.
Deputy Minister Çonkar is expected to outline how Ankara plans to deepen these initiatives, combining state-backed diplomacy with commercial risk-taking and infrastructure development. Analysts note that Turkey’s approach, coming at a time of intensifying competition from global powers such as China and Russia, positions it as a pragmatic partner in frontier markets.
“Turkey’s increasingly bold energy and mining moves in Africa are not just about securing resources – they represent a new model of partnership,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “The challenge will be ensuring that deals deliver fair returns, support local industries, and foster shared growth.”
