Somalis is advancing a rapid transformation toward a more integrated, investment-ready energy market, driven by policy momentum, expanding infrastructure and growing private sector participation. The government’s target of 50% renewable electricity generation by 2028, alongside plans to increase national access rates to 80% under the National Transformation Plan 2025–2029, underscores a clear commitment to scalable, sustainable growth. With abundant solar and wind resources, improving regulatory clarity and a pipeline of bankable projects, the country is positioning itself as an emerging destination for power and energy investment.

Central to this transition is the operationalization of new regulatory institutions, including the National Electricity Authority, alongside update fiscal and contractual frameworks under the Somali Petroleum Authority. Revised production sharing contracts and tender protocols are designed to align with international standards, providing investors with greater transparency and legal certainty as Somalia opens its upstream, midstream and power markets.

At the same time, Somalia is preparing for a landmark offshore drilling campaign scheduled for 2026, led by Turkish Petroleum. Following extensive 3D seismic surveys conducted in 2024 and 2025, the campaign will target deepwater blocks with estimated reserves of up to 30 billion barrels of oil and gas. The deployment of ultra-deepwater drilling capabilities marks Somalia’s first major offshore exploration effort in decades and positions the country as a potential new entrant in global hydrocarbon supply.

Complementing upstream ambitions, large-scale renewable and hybrid energy projects are advancing across the country. Developments such as the 55 MWp Jazeera solar-plus-storage project in Mogadishu, alongside hybrid solar initiatives in Puntland and Somaliland, are expected to reduce reliance on imported diesel and lower tariffs by up to 50% by 2026. The World Bank-backed Somalia Electricity Power Sector Recovery Project continues to drive grid rehabilitation, rural electrification and institutional capacity building, while regional interconnection plans with Ethiopia aim to integrated Somalia into the East African Power Pool.

Minister Dahir Shire Mohamed and Director General Arabey Hashi Abdi’s participation at IAE 2026 will provide investors with direct insight into Somalia’s evolving regulatory environment, upcoming licensing opportunities and project pipeline across both renewable energy and oil and gas. As the country balances energy security, affordability and export potential, these developments highlight a dual-track investment case anchored in both near-term infrastructure deployment and long-term resource monetization.

IAE 2026 is an exclusive forum designed to connect African markets with global investors, serving as a key platform for deal-making in the lead-up to African Energy Week. Scheduled from April 22­–23, 2026, in Paris, the event will provide delegates with two days of in-depth engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, visit www.invest-africa-energy.com. To sponsor or register as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com