Cape Town: Turkey's Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Ahmet Berat Çonkar, is set to speak at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025, emphasizing Ankara's expanding involvement in Africa's energy sector. The event, titled Invest in African Energies, will take place in Cape Town from September 29 to October 3. Çonkar's participation underscores the recent strategic partnerships and commercial activities that are shaping new investment opportunities in the continent's energy landscape.

According to African Press Organization, over the past two years, Turkey has taken significant steps to establish a strong presence in Africa's hydrocarbon sector. In April 2025, Turkey and Somalia signed a landmark agreement for onshore oil and gas exploration. This deal grants the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) rights over three blocks totaling 16,000 km². The agreement involves seismic studies and drilling, offering Turkey substantial cost recovery rights and minimal royalty obligations. This highlights Ankara's willingness to take on frontier risks and Somalia's need for reliable partners. Furthermore, Turkey has expressed intentions to enhance cooperation in Somalia's mining sector, aiming to access Africa's abundant reserves of critical minerals essential for the global energy transition.

With Deputy Minister Çonkar's address at AEW 2025, there is a possibility for more transparent and proactive collaboration that could mutually benefit Turkish investors and African nations. NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, notes that Turkey's assertive energy and mining initiatives in Africa are about more than just resource acquisition—they represent a new model of partnership. The challenge will be to align terms such that host countries receive fair returns, local industries thrive, and risks are equitably shared.