I thought this was a worthy topic. The country's civil war has totally cast it off from the rest of the world, and information about the country has been through the lens of experience from those who fled and the memories and photos they've brought back with them. However, the country stood as a nation for only a generation, not nearly enough time for any sort of resource exploitation to occur, but lots of information from the brief period of exploration between the 60s and 80s still exists, and I wanted to bring it to light.

First category - Oil

Source - Jane's Intelligence Gathering Services (http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Sentinel-Security-Assessment-North-Africa/Natural-resources-Somalia.html)

While Somalia has never been an oil producer, geologically there is a strong possibility that it could possess significant oil reserves.

The sedimentary basin running under the Gulf of Aden provides the most obvious area of exploration as significant reserves have already been discovered off Yemen. These waters are ostensibly controlled by Somaliland and Puntland. The US companies Conoco, Amoco, Chevron and Phillips were awarded large concessions in Somali territory before the collapse of the Siad Barre regime in 1991. While the unrecognised government of Somaliland has pledged to honour these concessions and southern warlords have offered security to oil workers there, US oil companies still consider the country too dangerous and unregulated to resume activity.Some other foreign oil companies have, however, made attempts to resume exploration activities since 2000. In February 2001, Somalia's Transitional National Government (TNG) signed a deal with TotalFinaElf (now Total) awarding the company a one-year exploration agreement in southern Somalia. However, the inclusion of the TNG into the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) made the company pull out, illustrating the major problem of foreign oil and gas contractors in Somalia - namely the stability of local partners. A second major problem is contested local and national borders, illustrated by Range Resource's quest to drill for oil in areas claimed by both Puntland and Somaliland.Today, there are several oil companies involved in Somalia. Australian Range Resources entered into a Heads of Agreement in October 2005 to acquire a 50.1 per cent interest in the sole and exclusive rights to all mineral and hydrocarbon exploration and development in Puntland. In July 2006, the company reached an agreement to acquire.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_s6MoaWlpg6A/S65Wxvl9soI/AAAAAAAAAFY/BLuSjGyXIg0/s400/Yemen_Somali_basins_post_rift.gif

http://www.capitaleritrea.com/wp-content/uploads/Puntland-Oil.jpg

http://www.biyokulule.com/Puntla2.jpg

http://www.biyokulule.com/Puntla3.jpg

http://www.biyokulule.com/Puntla4.jpg

http://www.biyokulule.com/Puntla5.jpg

http://www.biyokulule.com/Puntla7.jpg

http://www.biyokulule.com/Puntla8.jpg

Great idea of a thread. :)

Somalia has a lot of potential, it's a total virgin land as far as resource exploration is concerned...I'll contribute to this thread when I can.

The US companies Conoco, Amoco, Chevron and Phillips were awarded large concessions in Somali territory before the collapse of the Siad Barre regime in 1991.

Wtf is this.
We don't have to honour something done by a dictator and done without the public's consent. Any money that comes from the natural resources should belong only to the people of Somalia and no non Somali should be allowed to buy land where there might be resources.

Lailax, those contracts have already expired. Somalia could easily become a high income country by 2025 through a combination of stability and a well managed resource industry. I personally admire countries whose economy is build on enterprise, like Turkey and Malaysia, imagine if these countries today found 10 billion barrels, that would simply be the icing on the cake.

^ Malaysia has 3 billion barrels, how do you think the Petronas energy giant got its start - right at home. And Turkey has immense resources, water being one of them, which it supplies to places as far as Jordan and Israel for a price.

http://allsbc.com/sbcon/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Shidal-16.jpg
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http://allsbc.com/sbcon/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Shidal-16.jpg
http://allsbc.com/sbcon/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Shidal-18.jpg

:banana::banana:

http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/uploads/3/23_1.jpg

http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/uploads/3/21_1.jpg

http://cdn.horseedmedia.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Shidaalka-Puntland-4.jpg

http://cdn.horseedmedia.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Shidaalka-Puntland-3.jpg

http://cdn.horseedmedia.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Shidaalka-Puntland-1.jpg


:banana: Lets hope they find the stuff.

^^^

I hope so :)

Very interesting new. :yes:, Is it in Somaliland?

Is it the Turkish investors?

drill baby drill

^^^

No it's Puntland

Great news, how much oil does Somalia have?

1) Big congratulations. Hopefully this will provide an added incentive for fighters to put down the arms. Somali's appear to have known for a long time (from what we hear from other Somali forumers) that there was oil under the ground, hopefully now that they will begin to bear its fruits, they will exploit it fully rather then taking pot shots all day.
2) Does anyone know how much oil is under Somalia as far as explorers have found so far
3) How much will this initial project produce?
4) When will the next project come about?

^^^

No it's Puntland

Ah, thanks. isn't it insecurity there?

Ah, thanks. isn't it insecurity there?

It is relatively stable.

Great news, how much oil does Somalia have?


More than 500 billion barrels :cheers:

More than 500 billion barrels :cheers:

... So Somalia has 5 times more oil than Saudi Arabia? o.o

:cool: There is already confirmed deposits of Natural Gas, Tin, Uraniun, Iron Ore, Gypsum, Bauxite etc.

The geograpic location of Somalia means how much not if there is oil. A 3,300km coast means almost unlimited potential for off-shore explorations. :banana:

Azmat, he's pulling your leg. Though Somalia could surprise the world.

It is relatively stable.

Thanks. good news eitherway. eventually the region will get stable and peaceful.

Great news! What company is doing the drilling?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_s6MoaWlpg6A/S65Wxvl9soI/AAAAAAAAAFY/BLuSjGyXIg0/s400/Yemen_Somali_basins_post_rift.gif


http://www.africaoilcorp.com/i/maps/Surrounded-by-Oil-Map2011-sm.jpg


http://www.capitaleritrea.com/wp-content/uploads/Puntland-Oil.jpg

More than 500 billion barrels :cheers:


:lol::lol:

More than anything, this is politically very significant. If oil is found, that will be very important in the politics of the region.

Great news! What company is doing the drilling?

Found it. Red Emperor Resources (ASX: RMP)(LON:RMP)

http://redemperorresources.com/IRM/content/default.aspx

This is good news given the fact that we are neighbours and Kenya actually have many people of Somali descent. This may help in keeping a flow of this valuable resource to the country. I hope this will be realized so that there is a benefit in all directions.

This is actually great news for greater East Africa. so Somalia is joing Sudan and Uganda as East Africa's producers. whilst giants Markets Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania are there only to get Oil through a competition between the producers. Go to love this region's realities.

This is actually great news for greater East Africa. so Somalia is joing Sudan and Uganda as East Africa's producers

Well lets hope oil is spudded.

Whats the Somali gdp growth rate for 2012?

^^ Unknown, I bet!!

Great news, Somalia, Hope they find commercial quantities of the thing, and hope it makes Somalia stable.

it will make that region very powerful compare to other regions because they will have now a source of income to compete against other regions of their nation.

Here is another one. 'Compete' in what sense ?

^Butembo is cool. He's right walaal, I predict - if the oil money is wisely spend - that Puntland will become a big economic hub for traders across the Somali Merchant Network in the region.

How is this going to be handled if Somali were to be restabilized? If there is a discovery of commercial quantities, would Puntland accept reunifying with southern Somalia?

How is this going to be handled if Somali were to be restabilized? If there is a discovery of commercial quantities, would Puntland accept reunifying with southern Somalia?

I barely noticed your post considering the avalance of trolling from Jamaax.

They are part and parcel of Somalia, they never broke off, hence there is nothing to re-unify. Secondly its not the only region in Somalia with prospective oil basins, or resource rich for that matter. If Puntland wanted to secede it had the chance to do so plenty of times.

it will make that region very powerful compare to other regions because they will have now a source of income to compete against other regions of their nation.

BUTEMBO you still havent asnwered my question. Compete in what sense ?

you still havent asnwered my question. Compete in what sense ?
Compete against Somaliland and the Somalia (south Region ) economically. For some reasons i look at the whole Somalia as some kind of a big strong Federal nation.

You are being very vague :) What do you mean "compete economically". What would they be competing for... their regional economies are pretty much independent of eachother. You will need to be more specific.

I guess i'm wrong on what i was thinking. i don't have any other ways to describe it.

edit

Good questions. I am especially curious and hoping for an answer to the latter question.

Has already been answered. read my previous comments.

Juzme, I can't speak for Butembo, but I think he means in terms of resource distribution. In a federal situation, the region that produces the oil will generally get a higher portion of the revenues, and the rest is given to the other regions. If Puntland has oil and other regions don't, that region will develop a lot faster than others. Won't that create rivalry or resentment in non-oil regions? That's how I understood his question.

Juzme, I can't speak for Butembo, but I think he means in terms of resource distribution. In a federal situation, the region that produces the oil will generally get a higher portion of the revenues, and the rest is given to the other regions. If Puntland has oil and other regions don't, that region will develop a lot faster than others. Won't that create rivalry or resentment in non-oil regions? That's how I understood his question.

Let Butembo explain what he meant. There is already an agreement inplace according to the "federal charter". There are oil seeps and various minerals in Somaliland. There is confirmed gas and likely oil in southern Somalia.

If anything if oil is found it will be a catalyst for peace. Somalis are entrepreneurial and when you add on the involvement of the major world powers once oil/gas is found, the place will be stabilised soonse than you can say "injeera". Somaliland will emmediately be overwhelmed with interested companies/countries.

"Won't that create rivalry or resentment in non-oil regions" - again this is pure speculation or wishful thinking. It is a very superficial and simplistic analysis. To keep it brief: it will be an incentinve to calm things down in their respective regions if there might be oil to be explored. Somaliland will want to maintain its prized peace/development so it wont start anything. Al-shabab/south somalia cannot do anything to puntland since they have failed to even budge the puntland border for years - it would be certain less likely if puntland has oil wealth/ resource hungry foreign actors behind it.

Go to the nearest mentally defecient peoples clinic and get treated. Do you honestly believe hardware and troops are transported using camels and donkeys... dont waste my time :lol::lol:The point is, those donkeys are Al-Shabaab's assets, they may not be using them to transport weapons but they obviously use them for other needs.

They are just part of Al-Shabaab's assets that need to be confiscated. The KDF will just be keeping them.

Let Butembo explain what he meant. There is already an agreement inplace according to the "federal charter"..

She just explained what i was trying to say.

Shall oil start flowing in Puntland. it means lots of cash for that region. Somaliland (since its very peaceful and democratic) will rush to invite Oil explorers in it region. So will Southern Somalia because it wont like to stay behind other regions. Knowing Somalis are business minded and somehow strong Federalists.

In Federal nations, every region love that pride of being the shining star of the nation. This is likely even to bring an end to wars. A new Generation of Somalis is coming up. Times change, so does people. the old generation is aging to retirement. countries are changing and Somalia having a big diaspora , its so hungry to see the country at peace. and almost everyone of them is aware of the massive potentials the country sleeps on.

Let Butembo explain what he meant. There is already an agreement inplace according to the "federal charter". There are oil seeps and various minerals in Somaliland. There is confirmed gas and likely oil in southern Somalia.

If anything if oil is found it will be a catalyst for peace. Somalis are entrepreneurial and when you add on the involvement of the major world powers once oil/gas is found, the place will be stabilised soonse than you can say "injeera". Somaliland will emmediately be overwhelmed with interested companies/countries.

"Won't that create rivalry or resentment in non-oil regions" - again this is pure speculation or wishful thinking. It is a very superficial and simplistic analysis. To keep it brief: it will be an incentinve to calm things down in their respective regions if there might be oil to be explored. Somaliland will want to maintain its prized peace/development so it wont start anything. Al-shabab/south somalia cannot do anything to puntland since they have failed to even budge the puntland border for years - it would be certain less likely if puntland has oil wealth/ resource hungry foreign actors behind it.

How is it superficial? Oil in a poor country is not known for its stabilizing properties, but rather for its potential to create power struggles and instability. It's a valid question.

She just explained what i was trying to say.

Shall oil start flowing in Puntland. it means lots of cash for that region. Somaliland (since its very peaceful and democratic) will rush to invite Oil explorers in it region. So will Southern Somalia because it wont like to stay behind other regions. Knowing Somalis are business minded and somehow strong Federalists.

In Federal nations, every region love that pride of being the shining star of the nation. This is likely even to bring an end to wars. A new Generation of Somalis is coming up. Times change, so does people. the old generation is aging to retirement. countries are changing and Somalia having a big diaspora , its so hungry to see the country at peace. and almost everyone of them is aware of the massive potentials the country sleeps on.

Thanks for clarifying. I agree with most of what you have said. We will need to wait and see.

How is it superficial? Oil in a poor country is not known for its stabilizing properties, but rather for its potential to create power struggles and instability. It's a valid question.This was actually one of the points I was talking about.

I told them that it's still not the right time for Somalia to be able to manage it's own oil because the country as a whole is still not secure enough and even though places like Puntland are peaceful, the discovery of oil will have an impact on how the different militia groups operate and they could possibly relocate to these peaceful areas. I also mentioned that I dont think the current forces are capable to deal with them effectively.

How is it superficial? Oil in a poor country is not known for its stabilizing properties, but rather for its potential to create power struggles and instability. It's a valid question.

Well the difference is that Somaliland and Puntland pretty much have a monopoly of power in their regions. Also it is not just one region that is likely to have oil, it is many regions. Your statement might have held true were there one region with oil and the other regions without. Furthermore, the governnig bodies of both puntland & somaliland have the backing of their respective localities.... so I don't know who would be struggling for power.

Also I explained my reasoning pretty clearly. it will be an incentinve for everyone to calm things down in their respective regions if there might be oil to be exploited. Somaliland will want to maintain its prized peace/development so it wont start anything. Al-shabab/south somalia cannot do anything to puntland since they have failed to even budge the puntland border for years - it would be certain less likely if puntland has oil wealth/ resource hungry foreign actors behind it.

We will wair and see, everything else is just speculation.

d/p

d/p

I've deleted the troll posts and moved the topic in the existing Somalia resources thread so we can have a REAL discussion on this.

Please keep the trolling outside, kthxbye. :)

"Oil brings violence and bloodshed to poor countries?" Really, and I thought people brought violence and bloodshed to poor countries?

Was the UAE not poor before oil? Was not Saudi Arabia? Was not Kuwait? Was not Qatar? Was not Oman? Those poor bastards managed it well, so why not Somalis?

Explain to me how a region in Somalia that is far more socially and intellectually advanced than those Arab countries TODAY let alone 50-100 years ago, is going to falter because of oil? Present poverty is not an indication of post-oil failures. This is a region, that despite being thrown into sudden anarchy 20 years ago resolved its differences and built a working society literally overnight, I think they know what they're doing and I think they'll accomplish more with their future wealth than any examples we've yet seen.

Horn Petroleum Commences Drilling in Puntland, Somalia

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Jan 16, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Horn Petroleum Corporation CA:HRN +1.14% ("Horn Petroleum" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the spudding of the Shabeel-1 well on the Dharoor Block in Puntland, Somalia and is currently preparing to drill ahead to a total planned maximum depth of 3800 meters. Drilling operations have also commenced on the Shabeel North-1 well with the setting of the 30 inch surface casing and the drilling of a 50 meter pilot hole. Please see attached photos.

To see the photos associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/hrn116i.pdf .

The Sakson 501 rig will be used to drill both wells which are expected to take approximately 90 days each for drilling and evaluation. These two wells satisfy the first exploration period minimum work obligations of the Production Sharing Contracts for both the Dharoor and Nugaal Blocks. They are the first oil exploration wells to be drilled in over 20 years in the country.


http://www.marketwatch.com/story/horn-petroleum-commences-drilling-in-puntland-somalia-2012-01-16

Found this on their website.

http://www.hornpetroleum.com/i/photos/2012-01-16NR-img1.jpg

For those who are unsure of Puntland's position in all of this, their leaders have expressed on hiiraan.com that the oil will serve all of Somalia and not just one region. They've stated that a working federal framework is the best guarantee that all Somalis will get a fair share of the resources.

"Oil brings violence and bloodshed to poor countries?" Really, and I thought people brought violence and bloodshed to poor countries?

Was the UAE not poor before oil? Was not Saudi Arabia? Was not Kuwait? Was not Qatar? Was not Oman? Those poor bastards managed it well, so why not Somalis?

Explain to me how a region in Somalia that is far more socially and intellectually advanced than those Arab countries TODAY let alone 50-100 years ago, is going to falter because of oil? Present poverty is not an indication of post-oil failures. This is a region, that despite being thrown into sudden anarchy 20 years ago resolved its differences and built a working society literally overnight, I think they know what they're doing and I think they'll accomplish more with their future wealth than any examples we've yet seen.

Good point. Gulf states were nothing before they had oil. Poorer than Africa. Now look at them today. Ultimately it is a reflection of the leadership. The leaders have a good opportunity to set things right and start a new chapter. I hope they take it.

Definitely, its all about leadership. Puntland's leadership, and in general the leaders of all of Somalia's region-states and TFG, are better-educated than any present or past Gulf leaders, so I can't see how Somalis will fail where the Arabs did not. The present culture of Somalia is very democratic and much more open than the cultures prevailing in states from Kuwait to Angola, so once again I fail to see how some people can so wrongly assume that Somalis are bound to fuck things up when in fact the leaders of Somalia today and the current tradition of governance (where it does exist) is far healthier than most countries in the world.

For those who are unsure of Puntland's position in all of this, their leaders have expressed on hiiraan.com that the oil will serve all of Somalia and not just one region. They've stated that a working federal framework is the best guarantee that all Somalis will get a fair share of the resources.

It's great that they're stating their position from the very beginning.

Yes, whether resources are a curse or a blessing is purely a question of leadership.

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http://cdn.horseedmedia.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Shidaalka-Puntland-4.jpg
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So drilling starts? Not sure if that's good news, I would prefer these resources to be exploited once stability returns. With the current political situation in Somalia, I doubt this will benefit the people.

Who gave the licences to start drilling, is it Puntland or the TFG?

Lets not get excited too quickly here... There is alot we don't know about this particular project and those behind it.

Who gave the licences to start drilling, is it Puntland or the TFG?
I doubt that TFG has any say in Puntlands business.

Either way, it will bring wealth which will lead to developments in the region. I'm sure that this will be a positive outcome, the only risk I see is if they start beefing with Somaliland over territory both regions claim.

I doubt that TFG has any say in Puntlands business.

The PM of the TFG is a Puntlander.

No doubt this is a major project that will be a game changer not only within Somalia but also within the region. Hopefully it will bring peace and stability and more use of our other natural resources.

I was juat checking the latest news and it seems that 4bn barrels is estimated to be in this particular sitr/field.

This small region alone may contain 4 billion barrels of oil. With Somalia's population, this will be huge.Somalia oil exploration: Drilling begins in Puntland

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/57942000/jpg/_57942825_464.jpgThe region of Somalia where the wells are being drilled may have reserves of up to 4bn barrels of oil

Oil exploration has begun in the arid north-east of Somalia, which has been wracked by civil war for two decades.

The Canadian firm Africa Oil behind the project said its two wells are the first to be drilled there in 21 years.

The semi-autonomous Puntland region where the drilling is taking place says it is an opportunity for peace.

"It's a new beginning - if oil is found it will change Somalia for the better," Issa Farah head of Puntland's Petroleum and Minerals Agency told the BBC.

Speaking on the BBC's Focus on Africa programme, he said it was an important development not only for Puntland, but the whole of Somalia, which has not had a functioning central government since 1991 and has been convulsed by fighting between militias.

"I think in 10 years' time - if oil is found, we will see a better country, a stronger country that lives in peace and prosperity with its own neighbours and hopefully that produces what we have been all looking for - peace, prosperity, development and progress," he said.

In the area where the two wells are being drilled to a depth of 3,800m (about two miles), there is an assumption that "there will be about 3bn to 4bn barrels of oil", he said.


Nigeria, which is Africa's biggest oil producer, is estimated by the International Energy Agency to hold 37bn barrels of reserve oil.

According to Africa Oil, whose firm Horn Petroleum Corporation is operating the project, the drilling of each well will take about three months.

"These wells are the first to be drilled into the deep areas of the rift basins and will be key to unlocking the hydrocarbon potential of this unexplored prospective trend," David Grellman, head of Horn Petroleum Corporation, said in a statement.

Mr Farah said that Puntland would not allow this "historic project" - involving three oil firms - to be a curse, as oil has proved in some other African countries.

"Before any barrel of oil comes out will have a policy that will benefit our own people and will not be detrimental to us," he said.

"We want this to be something that can improve our lives, not take us back into the dark ages."

Puntland is relatively stable compared with other parts of Somalia, but many of the pirates who function off the country's coast are based in the region.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16600649

^^Africa oil, interesting.

The PM of the TFG is a Puntlander.
I didn't know that, but do they have political power in Puntland?

^^Africa oil, interesting.

How so ?

Puntlander.

I never heard that word before.:lol:

How so ?
They have three blocks in Ethiopia, two of them in Ogaden.

^puntland or northeastern part of somalia was never a separatist state and is major player in somali politics. After the writing of the conistitution, we will know how somalia will distribute the benefits of its natural resources. As for somaliland or nothern part of somalia, it has significant part of that land that's prounion that will make it impossible to leave somalia. One needs to separate reality from fiction or wishes.

They have three blocks in Ethiopia, two of them in Ogaden.

That is interesting indeed.

I never heard that word before.:lol:

LOL.

Somaliland Oil :D

Ophir Energy has interests in 8 different African jurisdictions. They are the following Tanzania, Madagascar, Somaliland, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, Gabon, Congo(Brazzaville).


http://i.imgur.com/ARYfD.png

Gross Area 16,270km2

http://i.imgur.com/v02Dt.jpg

SEISMIC EXAMPLES FROM ONSHORE SOMALILAND
http://i.imgur.com/xMDUr.jpg

TYPICAL TERRAIN WITHIN THE ONSHORE BERBERA PSA AREA
http://i.imgur.com/CQGxh.jpg

OPHIR FIELD CREWS VERIFYING SEISMIC LINE LOCATIONS USING GPS
http://i.imgur.com/zBHYz.jpg

Good news. Hopefully tangible results will be obtained soon.

^I'm 100% sure there are oil reserves of a commercial magnitude that can uplift the country, otherwise Connoco wouldn't have stuck around for half the civil-war. A classified American document detailed that the company was certain a single well in the Garowe area(Nugaal Valley basin) could retrieve 300 thousand barrels a day. That's pretty substantial for a single well considering Sudan one of the major producers of the last decade was exporting around 490000 barrels a day with great economic returns and progress. If you add the Dharoor valley on top of that, Somalis could easily enter the top 5 of major African oil producers within five years of the first oil-pipes to the seaports being established.

There are estimates of 3-4 billion barrels in the Dharoor Valley alone! Imagine in other parts of the country, especially the South which hasn't been explored, or the sea. The potential is limitless, our land is rich but temporarily poor due to politics!

http://i39.tinypic.com/jz8b46.jpg

- Source (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hbVWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gOkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7276,235261&dq=somalia&hl=en)

In 1984, Brazilian mining company Construtora Andrade Gutierrez announced a $300 million investment in a uranium mine in northern Somalia. The deal was to be financed by Banco do Brasil, and the host government agent was the Somali Arab Mining Company (Soarmico). Soarmico was itself a joint venture founded in 1978 between the Somali government, and the Arab Mining Company based in Jordan, and Iraq.

Brazil of today is a rapidly growing economy and far more eager for natural resources now than two and half decades ago. It will be interesting to see, when investment confidence increases in Somalia, if the Brazilian mining company will return to revive the above cancelled project.

We are ballin, man. Stuff like this makes me feel good.

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070414081256/uncyclopedia/images/f/ff/Ballin.gif

http://i.imgur.com/eTyO1.jpg

I just heard that the projected value of oil based on the current price in both the Nugaal and Dharoor fields is $1.9 trillion. Wow.

I just heard that the projected value of oil based on the current price in both the Nugaal and Dharoor fields is $1.9 trillion. Wow.

Are you for real?

They haven't discovered anything yet.

^^^ It's true check this

-HTzlH7EGE8

Damn! Somalis will soon be living like Qataris! If that much is lying around in Somalia, it's only logical it extends across the border :cheers:


The Australian accent is super ugly.

Damn! Somalis will soon be living like Qataris! If that much is lying around in Somalia, it's only logical it extends across the border :cheers:


The Australian accent is super ugly.

And that's only puntland region. Imagine the rest of country in areas such as Somaliland, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Central and southern Somalia.
The sky could be the limit.

Absolutely. In that same article posted above (the one from the 80s), it also talks of uranium and other valuable minerals.

You guys need to hurry up and get the country under control.

Absolutely. In that same article posted above (the one from the 80s), it also talks of uranium and other valuable minerals.

You guys need to hurry up and get the country under control.

When you have oil The U.S gov't wants peace of the pie. Otherwise, you become threat to national security.:lol:

If Puntland really does have 20 billion barrels of Oil. That would make it 20th biggest proven oil reserves in the world. And Puntland is just one region in Somalia. Somaliland and Southern Somalia combined could potentially hold Oil along with our huge off shore possible with our large EEZ.

Read this crazy Times article from 2010, stating that East Africa could be onto record-breaking discoveries, with Somalia highlighted.

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1970726,00.html

Much of East Africa's hopes are focused on a fault line running from Somalia to Madagascar known as the Davie Fracture Zone. It's there that Bertagne's analysis — using Cold War–era sea-floor mapping originally intended for use by Soviet submarines — has prompted speculation about oil deposits rivaling those of the North Sea or Middle East.

Explorers salivate in particular at the prospect of peace in Somalia. Oil reserves in the blocks licensed to two small oil companies, Africa Oil and Range Resources, could contain as much as 10 billion bbl. Nobody is talking about producing oil in Somalia anytime soon, but analysts say oil companies are less likely to be intimidated by political risk than they were in the past.

Things are looking up.

Are you for real?

They haven't discovered anything yet.

I got it from that video posted, I was surprised in hearing that myself!

Put that in perspective, Somalia's GDP in 2010 was a tiny $5 billion.

Somalia's GDP is higher than that Xusein, remember that 99% of the economy is informal. CIA World fact book, IMF and all the other orgs have no presence in Somalia, and their data has been static for like two decades.

If Puntland really does have 20 billion barrels of Oil. That would make it 20th biggest proven oil reserves in the world. And Puntland is just one region in Somalia. Somaliland and Southern Somalia combined could potentially hold Oil along with our huge off shore possible with our large EEZ.

If 20 billion barrels of proven oil reserves is established, from an African persepective that would put us above Angola, and below Nigeria and Libya. The top five of Africa would look something like this:

1. Libya
2. Nigeria
3. Somalia
4. Angola
5. Algeria

Countries like Kazakhstan went from a below $1000 GDP per capita in the 1990s to a +$10000 today. If Somalia could take a page from the Kazakh, or others like Malaysia and the UAE, the future could be very bright.

BTW; in the 70s and 80s alot of Somali men left for Dubai and the Gulf to work in the oil-industry, wouldn't it make sense to reach out to them?

Somalia's GDP is higher than that Xusein, remember that 99% of the economy is informal. CIA World fact book, IMF and all the other orgs have no presence in Somalia, and their data has been static for like two decades.


Definitely! But my point was that this find (let alone any other future finds) dwarfs our current output! This has the potential to be the biggest economic story to hit Somalia since independence.

I just heard that the projected value of oil based on the current price in both the Nugaal and Dharoor fields is $1.9 trillion. Wow.

:eek2:

East Africa as a whole is experiencing a near-miraculous resource boom. As the world's poorest corner, this region should see some astronomical growth in coming years.

Wey u qaraxday Somalia! War iska heshiiya khalas, cashada meesha taala wey idinku wada filantahee, anakana wax naga soo gaadhsiiya

There is already peace in Somalia, only the illusion of a civil war lingers. There are functioning administrations in 95% of Somalia. Only the capital and surrounding areas is experiencing a degree of chaos, the rest is fine and negotiable.

I just heard that the projected value of oil based on the current price in both the Nugaal and Dharoor fields is $1.9 trillion. Wow.

Inb4 invasion and claims of enriching uranium *cough*
Tongue in cheek comment perhaps but we all know ordinary Somalis won't get any of the profits. Natural resources corrupts in Africa. This will be no different.

We are ballin, man. Stuff like this makes me feel good.

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070414081256/uncyclopedia/images/f/ff/Ballin.gif

:rofl:

Every Somali knew Somalia was oil rich, the question is how far does it stretch?

I really hope Somalis get their act together and share it out, we could indeed be 'ballin'.
Lets hope no more Somali babies (any baby in the horn region for that matter) dies of hunger again!

I think they might be exaggerating some of these estimates in order to attract investors. However, if they aren't then this is just awesome.

Inb4 invasion and claims of enriching uranium *cough*
Tongue in cheek comment perhaps but we all know ordinary Somalis won't get any of the profits. Natural resources corrupts in Africa. This will be no different.


No offense dear sister but that's b.s, Somalis have one of the most robust and investigative independent medias in Africa. These deals were already uncovered by Somali journalists before they were supposed to be shared with the public. Do you really think a bunch of foreigners could just come in and steal our resources without a backlash or popular uprising the moment people got wind of it? Why do you think ordinary fishermen started hi-jacking ships? They were stealing our marine resources and so they reacted in that fashion. These investors aren't stupid of history and know fully well if they take more than they deserve, both their infrastructure and the leaders they made the deals with would be destroyed and deposed. Connoco invested $150 million in explorations and infrastructure in the late 80s but because they bet on the wrong leader, and then on a US-UN intervention that went batshit all of that money went to waste.

Secondly, if the oil reserves are of the magnitude that is currently estimated, it will herald a significant new period in Somali development. Even if there is corruption, and say the leaders steal a hundred billion (never going to happen) the average Somali would still benefit immensely from the other hundreds of billions of dollars the oil reserves would generate and which the country's leaders would be forced to invest - or risk being deposed - be it in the form of new hospitals, schools and other important infrastructure, not to mention thousands and thousands of jobs.

Somalis aren't a docile people, if they feel oppressed they will resist, if they feel neglected they will make their voices heard by any means necessary. Remember they already deposed a dictator and lost a functioning republic in the process, the mere thought of foreigners coming in and stealing what's rightfully theirs would send them through the roof, and this particular characteristic is something the investor are very much aware off, and therefore like the Australian representative of Range Resources highlighted in the Al-Jazeera video, they have no choice but to stay on the right path, and not engage in shady ways.

If Puntland really does have 20 billion barrels of Oil. That would make it 20th biggest proven oil reserves in the world. And Puntland is just one region in Somalia. Somaliland and Southern Somalia combined could potentially hold Oil along with our huge off shore possible with our large EEZ.

The potential is incredible. 20 billion barrels in two regions alone :nuts: Considering the oil seeps in Somaliland and potential reserves in the largest region that is the south, on top of which would be any resrves of gas/oil found in what is the longest coast in the African continent as well as various mineral (uranium, iron ire, tin, gypsum, etc.), marine (fi$h) and agricultural resources, the economic potential is mind-spinning and this is only the primary sector of the economy. We should definately build up our manufacturing and services sectors as well - and all these resources for just a population of 10mil.

Wey u qaraxday Somalia! War iska heshiiya khalas, cashada meesha taala wey idinku wada filantahee, anakana wax naga soo gaadhsiiya

:lol::lol::lol:

Waa sidaa aad sheegtay, waliba intani waa meel kaliya uune, Somalia khayraadka ku jira adduunka oo dhan buu baahida ka saari karaa. :banana:

We are ballin, man. Stuff like this makes me feel good.

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070414081256/uncyclopedia/images/f/ff/Ballin.gif
Love it man.


That pic make me:hahaha: :hilarious: :lol:

Inb4 invasion and claims of enriching uranium *cough*
Tongue in cheek comment perhaps but we all know ordinary Somalis won't get any of the profits. Natural resources corrupts in Africa. This will be no different.


Depends. I think the Puntland leaders have more to lose if they try to steal this, everyone knows it's big and all eyes are on them. This is a chance to break the cycle. I am hopeful that this will help the living standards, we already have examples in Africa to avoid.


Every Somali knew Somalia was oil rich, the question is how far does it stretch?


LOL! My parents have been saying it's been oil rich for years! They used to say that the Saudis knew that Somalia had a lot of oil and would become a big competitor if it was allowed to drill it, so they have kept us down for that! (Okay, that's not too far fetched).

I also heard another Somali dude say that the oil from Arabia seeped down into Somalia due to gravity. :D

I also heard another Somali dude say that the oil from Arabia seeped down into Somalia due to gravity. :D

:lol:

LOL! My parents have been saying it's been oil rich for years! They used to say that the Saudis knew that Somalia had a lot of oil and would become a big competitor if it was allowed to drill it, so they have kept us down for that! (Okay, that's not too far fetched).

That's a common Somali myth, but ironically the Arabs have always been the biggest supporters of Somali resource exploitation, going as far back as the Soarmico company. Currently its the Emiratis who have been the most enthusiastic supporters of Puntland's oil exploration drive. The Arab League is the biggest proponent of resource exploration in the Arab world, and Somalia has always been viewed by Arab states as a priority in that respect.

Have any of their companies moved in?

Somalis aren't a docile people, if they feel oppressed they will resist, if they feel neglected they will make their voices heard by any means necessary. Remember they already deposed a dictator and lost a functioning republic in the process, the mere thought of foreigners coming in and stealing what's rightfully theirs would send them through the roof, and this particular characteristic is something the investor are very much aware off, and therefore like the Australian representative of Range Resources highlighted in the Al-Jazeera video, they have no choice but to stay on the right path, and not engage in shady ways.

No offense taken :)

But i'll believe it when I see it. I have a question, i'm assuming Puntland wishes to remain in a federal Somalia. WIll it share the profits to the South? Invest in their infrastructure as much as they will in their own region?

What about land ownership? Will Non Somalis be able to buy up large swathes of land?

LOL! My parents have been saying it's been oil rich for years! They used to say that the Saudis knew that Somalia had a lot of oil and would become a big competitor if it was allowed to drill it, so they have kept us down for that! (Okay, that's not too far fetched).

:rofl:

My relatives thought that too.

All Somalis knew we had resources we just didn't know the extent. Tho the numbers are impressive.
Imagine the other Somali regions potential and even better our offshore as we have alot of coastline :banana:

Have any of their companies moved in?

Not that I'm aware of, but the Emiratis have been pulling all kinds of strings to make sure the Puntland exploration goes well. They've paid for the new "marine force" and sent supplies to the administration under the guise of aid (we're talking new Mercedes supply trucks and the like). Even as far as sending their own surplus military equipment for the administration's use. Not long ago they were poking India about voting to lift the arms embargo on Somalia.

I'm also in agreement with MMX in that Somalis will be quick to rise up if things go sour; Puntland has spent an arm and a leg trying to appease local clans about drilling. There have been numerous, intermittent squabbles and all-out conflicts since as far back as 2005-2006 directly related to clans rejecting exploration out of suspicion. The clans are fully on board with exploration and they've already been sweet-talked with gifts and development pledges. I don't expect much bad news to come out of this, all sides have taken precautions, and the administration has been mature about its dealings as of late.

LOL! My parents have been saying it's been oil rich for years! They used to say that the Saudis knew that Somalia had a lot of oil and would become a big competitor if it was allowed to drill it, so they have kept us down for that! (Okay, that's not too far fetched).

I also heard another Somali dude say that the oil from Arabia seeped down into Somalia due to gravity. :D

:lol: @ gravity.
I actually heard that the Saudis used to give Somalis free oil just to keep them sweet:lol:

No offense taken :)

But i'll believe it when I see it. I have a question, i'm assuming Puntland wishes to remain in a federal Somalia. WIll it share the profits to the South? Invest in their infrastructure as much as they will in their own region?

Yes, the resources will be shared with the south and all the other parts recognised as Federal Somalia, though Puntland will enjoy the largest share. Similarly the South and other regions will get the biggest pieces of their own natural resource pies.

The establishment of infrastructure in other parts of the country is not really Puntland's task, but that of a Federal government, however Somalis are already investing in one another's regions right now, I don't see why this would change in the future with bigger economic returns.

What about land ownership? Will Non Somalis be able to buy up large swathes of land?

I think they can purchase a few acres, but the type of land-grabs that is sweeping the developing world will never happen in Somalia, where land is part of our people's very being.

I also heard another Somali dude say that the oil from Arabia seeped down into Somalia due to gravity. :D

Some of my Somali friends told this story as well.

Some of my Somali friends told this story as well.

AH!!!, lol,:lol: due to gravity, oil can only move downwards, towards the earth's center, not, Laterally, across the Earth's surface...... :D
Anyway, I know that is a joke.

there is little or no oil in South Arabia, Oil the Huge oil reserves, are concentrated along the Gulf of Arabia/Persian Gulf.

I've just found out that the sharing agreement is 55-45, in favor of the Puntland administration. Eritrea gets a 60-40 deal on most of their contracts from what I know. These two figures are the best in Africa that I know of, and far better than the earlier deals that Persian Gulf states were known to step into. Kudos to the leaders and intellectuals of both entities on their brilliant business skills and foresight.

The Arabs and Iranians were totally ripped off until the seventies.

55-45 is fair--for now. Hopefully if this whole oil thing actually works, a local company can be created.

55-45 is light-years ahead of other African revenue-sharing agreements, and those nations have made monumental gains with their oil income. Some countries have even skipped the whole industrialization phase and built Korea-like infrastructure in no time (wasn't their work but it's at least there). If all goes well, Somalia is in for a major facelift.

I'm on the phone, so I can't post the article, but Companies from South Korea, China, Japan, Turkey and others are rushing to Puntland for infrastructure projects.

You're leaving us in suspense, sxb. ;)

I'm on the phone, so I can't post the article, but Companies from South Korea, China, Japan, Turkey and others are rushing to Puntland for infrastructure projects.

The longest phone call ever...:)

The longest phone call ever...:)

:lol:

I'm on the phone, so I can't post the article, but Companies from South Korea, China, Japan, Turkey and others are rushing to Puntland for infrastructure projects.

Yes, though I do not know the precise details, I have heard a lot of foreign companies are showing interest in carrying out projects in Puntland.

They are pre-empting the finding of the oil :lol:

Red Emperor mulling decision on second Puntland well

Red Emperor Resources (LON:RMP) said today pilot drilling has started on a second well on its Puntland project in Somalia.

Drilling started earlier this month at the Shabeel-1 well in the Dharoor Valley, the first exploration well in Puntland for twenty years

Red Emperor added today that pilot drilling operations have also commenced at the Shabeel North-1 well, with the setting of 30 inch surface casing and the drilling of a 50-meter pilot hole.

Red Emperor has an option over this second well and will make a decision whether to participate fully over the coming period.

http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/38411/red-emperor-mulling-decision-on-second-puntland-well-38411.html

A second well in the same basin greatly increases the likelihood of hitting oil, should be interesting to see the results of both wells in the coming weeks and months.

You're leaving us in suspense, sxb. ;)
I'm forced to use my phone because my laptop died, RIP. I'm getting a new one, hopefully then I can post more prolific, now small paragraphs take me ages, and my fingers hurt because of cramp lol.

I am waiting till then. :laugh:

1100m reached in 19 days:

Howlihii shidaal qodista Puntland oo si habsami leh u socda.

http://mxcdn.horseedmedia.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Ceelal-shidaal-640x429.jpg

Waxaa maalintii 19-aad galay howlaha shidaal qodista ee laga wado dooxada Dharoor ee gobolka Bari.

Siciid Faarax Yare oo ah mas’uul ka tirsan shirkadda shidaal qodista wada ee Africa Oil oo maanta si kooban warbaahinta Horseed Media xafiiskeeda magaalada Boosaaso ula hadlay ayaa ka warbixiyey halka ay wax marayaan.

Mr Siciid wuxuu sheegay in Riiggii qodaalka wadey uu dhulka dalooliyey masaafo gaareysa 1100m, isagoo intaas ku daray in saadaashu ay ka weyntahay intii ay horay u ahayd, laguna rajo weyn yahay in la gaaro natiijo aad loogu farxo.

Siciid Faarax ayaa dhinaca kale mar aan wax weydiiney tirada dadka Soomaalida ah ee fursadaha shaqo ka helay howlaha shidaal qodista ee ay shirkadoodu wado sheegay inay jiraan dhalinyaro aad u tira badan oo ka shaqeeya inkasta oo uu ka gaabsaday inuu sheego tirada guud ee dadka ay Africa Oil shaqaaleysey.

16-kii bishii lasoo dhaafay ee Jen/2012 ayey ahayd markii ugu horeysey ee dooxada Dharoor ee Puntland laga bilaabay qodaalka ceelkii ugu horeeyey ee shidaal laga soo saarayo Soomaaliya, waxaana sahan hordhac ah oo la sameeyey lagu ogaadey in goobta shidaalka laga qodayo uu ku jiro keyd gaaraya in ka badan 2-Bilyan oo Fuusto. - Source (http://horseedmedia.net/2012/02/04/howlihii-shidaal-qodista-puntland-oo-si-habsami-leh-u-socda/)

Interesting article, title seems premature though:

Major Oil Strike in Somalia

By Hirsi Fiqi

According to contacts working at an exploration site in Somalia’s northern Bari region, itself a region within the semi-autonomous Puntland state authority, drilling teams at the Shabeel-1 well have already struck oil on the second stacked target with an API gravity of 37 degrees, signaling medium to light crude oil according to an onsite hydrometer. On February 4, Radio Horseed spoke with Africa Oil supervisor Said Farrah Yare who confirmed that a depth of 1,100 meters had been reached, and he had more to say. The following text is an excerpt from the Radio Horseed report, translated from Somali.

We have reached a target depth of 1,100 meters with the drilling rig, and the results thus far are better than expected. We expect in the coming period to reach a result that will bring immense and surprising joy.

Around the same time, explorers in Angola announced that they had impacted fossil fuels at depths of around 400 meters, which Puntland should have surpassed several weeks ago, making the latest developments within the realm of possibility. At this point, anything beyond the confirmed 1,100-meter target on February 4 is the last strong piece of information coming from the operations, but the plausibility of oil having already been discovered is very strong.

On many occasions the Puntland administration and the exploration teams have worked in silence for security reasons. It wasn’t confirmed until the week of January 12 that drilling equipment had been arriving at Bosaso, the main port city in Puntland, just days ahead of the official spudding.

There is a history of Puntland and the oil companies playing brilliant mind games on the public when it comes to drilling, but the surprises they deliver are always spectacular, and more surprises are definitely on the horizon when considering the upcoming London-based conference on February 23, where oil will be a huge talking point and a major point of leverage for the Puntland administration. - Source (http://dissidentnation.com/major-oil-strike-in-somalia)

I thought it would take longer to find it, but amazing news nonetheless!

Yet it is the extent of oil deposits beneath the Indian Ocean that is most exciting Somali officials. One said the potential was comparable to that of Kuwait, which has more than 100bn barrels of proven oil reserves. If true, the deposits would eclipse Nigeria's reserves – 37.2bn barrels – and make Somalia the seventh largest oil-rich nation.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/25/britain-oil-dash-somalia

:banana::banana::cheers:

If true ...allahu akbar !!!!

If true ...allahu akbar !!!!

Time will tell.

Let's wait for everything to be confirmed. I don't like these news which most of the time doesn't yield anything of significant.

http://i.imgur.com/65x6k.gif

(empty space)

No S***. Doesn't so called Somalia have the longest coastline in Africa stretching all the way from Bab el Mandeb to all the way near Oman in the northeast and then South going all the way to Kenya? Logic alone would have said so about the offshore oil in that country let alone the inland. I am not too keen on oil though since it creates problems. Also this should be moved to the appropriate section.

Somalia cant eclipse Nigeria in Oil reserves, just in one day like that..... that oilfield will have to be some MEGA SUPER DUPER Magnificent field. :lol:

eve at that, I doubt the possibility of it.

No S***. Doesn't so called Somalia have the longest coastline in Africa stretching all the way from Bab el Mandeb to all the way near Oman in the northeast and then South going all the way to Kenya? Logic alone would have said so about the offshore oil in that country let alone the inland. I am not too keen on oil though since it creates problems. Also this should be moved to the appropriate section.

Long coastline doesn't automatically translate to Oil...

Australia and Japan, are testimony.

THE iRONY, cOUNTRIES LIKE qATAR OR kUWAIT HARDLY HAVE ANY cOASTLINE, AND THEY HAVE huge DEPOSITS, OF THE THING..... iTS ALL ABOUT THE GEOGRAPHY.

David Cameron last week hosted an international conference on Somalia, pledging more aid, financial help and measures to tackle terrorism. The summit followed a surprise visit by the foreign secretary, William Hague, to Mogadishu, the Somali capital, where he talked about "the beginnings of an opportunity'' to rebuild the country.

The Observer can reveal that, away from the public focus of last week's summit, talks are going on between British officials and Somali counterparts over exploiting oil reserves that have been explored in the arid north-eastern region of the country. Abdulkadir Abdi Hashi, minister for international cooperation in Puntland, north-east Somalia – where the first oil is expected to be extracted next month – said: "We have spoken to a number of UK officials, some have offered to help us with the future management of oil revenues. They will help us build our capacity to maximise future earnings from the oil industry."

British involvement in the future Somali oil industry would be a boon for the UK economy and comes at a time when the world is increasingly concerned about the actions of Iran, the second-biggest oil producer in Opec.
^^ That explains UK's sudden interest with last weeks conference. Hopefully the political situation will be solved before the cash starts flowing.

http://i.imgur.com/65x6k.gif
:lol:

so thats why they started a war against al shabab

so thats why they started a war against al shabab
Who are "they"? Have you seen UK soldiers in Somalia? Besides, these initial oil findings are in Puntland, which isn't controlled by Al Shaabab.

Somalia cant eclipse Nigeria in Oil reserves, just in one day like that..... that oilfield will have to be some MEGA SUPER DUPER Magnificent field. :lol:

eve at that, I doubt the possibility of it.

+10000. But, the chance is there for it to happen. This is after all the country, and heck even continent, who's resource wealth is not entirely known yet.

But of course, Nigeria could discover more oil as well.

They need to tell the UK to piss off:ohno:

Hopefully these findings will make Somalis wake up.

Chinese will be flocking to Somalia

Somalia is a rich country with poor people. True say.

PS: The whole conference was because the UK and US are afraid that they will lose influence in Somalia to places like Turkey, Iran, and the Gulf states.

Somalia is a rich country with poor people. True say.

Much like most of the developing world.

Somalia cant eclipse Nigeria in Oil reserves, just in one day like that..... that oilfield will have to be some MEGA SUPER DUPER Magnificent field. :lol:

eve at that, I doubt the possibility of it.

It could, potentially. Puntland alone in Somalia has already has an estimated 20 billion barrels of Oil. However, this will be confirmed or denied later this year. Oil exploration has begun in Somaliland and offshore exploration will start when things become fully stabilised.

I wouldn't be surprised. Somalia already is more than Oil. Its already one of the business brained countries . so Oil being there or not, no matter how much it is. the most important is there already.

100bn barrels is nothing but a pie-in-the-sky guess at this point. The main company in Somalia, Africa Oil, has no proven reserves in Somalia at this point.

so thats why they started a war against al shabab

No, it's not.

Welcome back Carver,

The main company in Somalia, Africa Oil, has no proven reserves in Somalia at this point.


Looks very good for that, in fact, the results so far have been far better than expected ---> http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=88789737&postcount=145

It's not a matter of questioning anymore, it's pretty much certain that Somalia has oil at this point. It will only become more obvious as time goes by. Somalia's prime minister has already talked about finding bidders for the oil, gas, and most importantly he mentioned was the uranium. Read the article Ayatullahi posted and you'll see that room for doubt is nonexistent at this point. It's a sure-fire scenario. Let's hope it's managed well; the prime minister is a Harvard economist, I have confidence in him.

The article said nothing about proven reserves, just speculation.

Whow does on proves proven resourves anyways? Can someone prove it?

Welcome back Carver,

Thank you, Sir.

The article said nothing about proven reserves, just speculation.

Speculation with very good background. The trend has actually been that the speculated reserves are usually much lower than the final reserves.

They need to hurry up and sell as much as they can before synthetic biology technologies can make having petroleum reserves redundant.

They need to hurry up and sell as much as they can before synthetic biology technologies can make having petroleum reserves redundant.

As long as there is oil to be exploited, the big energy corporations won't let synthetic fuels be explored. Biofuels have been around for over 100 years, but oil companies kept a lid on them for good reason.

As long as there is oil to be exploited, the big energy corporations won't let synthetic fuels be explored. Biofuels have been around for over 100 years, but oil companies kept a lid on them for good reason.

The 20th century lacked the bioengineering technology available now. Look up the latest breakthroughs in synthetic biology, some of the stuff is truly awe-inspiring. They are close to developing organisms which produce huge amounts of oil out of practically thin air. It's only a matter of time for petroleum reserves to become redundant. There isn't much time left for Somalis to sell their oil reserves.

The 20th century lacked the bioengineering technology available now. Look up the latest breakthroughs in synthetic biology, some of the stuff is truly awe-inspiring. They are close to developing organisms which produce huge amounts of oil out of practically thin air. It's only a matter of time for petroleum reserves to become redundant. There isn't much time left for Somalis to sell their oil reserves.

I guarantee that so long as there is a barrel of oil to be packaged and shipped, no alternative fuel is going to be allowed to interfere with the sales.

For now, it still is much cheaper to simply use fossil fuels, but there will come a point in the very near future when this isn't the case anymore. If the oil stuff in Somalia continues on this pace I'm afraid they will lose out on a lot of money.

The reality is that conventional oil from usual places, like Saudi Arabia, are becoming less reliable...I read once that people think that the Saudis overestimate their capacity. The days of cheap oil are over in the long term, that is why explorers are looking in places off the beaten path, like Somalia and most of Africa, as well as investing more into unconventional oil sources, like in the tar sands of Canada or oil shale in the US.

Ironically, Somalia has good potential in wind and solar technology too as well as large uranium reserves so we are covered in the alternative front. :okay:

Butembo21 u might be right we are good at making money but we failed to bring ppeace to our country for more than 21 years. Of cours there were huge negative influences from outside but it was largely our own making.

As for the discovery of oil, I hope it brings prosperity to our people and not the curse it brought to many African countries before us.

Speculation with very good background. The trend has actually been that the speculated reserves are usually much lower than the final reserves.
Falklands... expected to have a few billion under there. Now the company is saying it may not be profitiable to exploit.

Good to hear Somalia's alternate power ability with the wind/solar/uranium. I think oil will begin to turn redundant soon, lobbyists can't outdo the massive public demand for a fall in fuel prices. Not just in the west but all over the world. Occupy Nigeria for example.

I hope Somalia has the reserves.

It seems Oil companies are now ready to be exploiting unconventional oil in large amounts.

It all comes down to viability really. conventional oil is more viable than unconventional oil, but when you have volatility and lack of transparency/funding etc to sustain exploration and production, then other sources become viable.

The reason why Oil companies will begin to opt for unconventional sources will not come as a result of diminishing oil reserves, but rather to have more secure sources.

For example the problems experienced in onshore Nigeria, the problems with suppliers in the Middle East such as Iran etc etc.

Oil reserves are not really diminishing as much as people think.

Nigeria for example is still discovering oil, a new Oil field in Nigeria has just come into the picture and started production. There is still enough conventional oil to sustain reasonable prices.

Nigeria for example has far more than 40 Billion barrels of oil, oil exploration in Nigeria is actually underfunded. There are so many new sources for conventional oil. People are exaggerating peak oil and other dynamics etc.

The real issue at play is production volatility, politics and having less instability and more options.

Oil is definitely not running out, conventional or unconventional.

It all comes down to viability and efficiency. Even if Somalia had 100 Billion proven reserves, to sustain production, to sustain investment and to have that interest in those sources of oil is a lot more precarious than actually having the oil itself. If the production of oil is not stable and the right mechanisms are not in place, then Oil companies will rather invest in other sources. Even if they produce the oil themselves on the state level, the dynamics at play to sustain production is not 1 + 1. Look at production in Angola for example and how quickly it declines even though they have large proven reserves.

It is all about the investment climate these days, most countries in Africa have large energy sources. Production is another thing entirely.

People think of Nigeria as major energy producer for example but Nigeria is only achieving 5% of its energy potential.

BP Negotiating to Enter Somalia

http://dissidentnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/bpsom.jpg

British Petroleum, the world’s fourth largest corporation and the third largest energy firm in the world, has reportedly entered negotiations with representatives from Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region. The troubled Puntland State has just rid itself of most of its infamous piracy issue and became the latest target of Al-Shabaab militants as local cells declared a new war on the poor region.


BP, which entered negotiations around the time of the recent London Conference on Somalia, has expressed interest in exploring the area around Aluula in Somalia’s northeastern Bari province. Currently, several small exploration firms are exploring around communities of Ufeyn, Dharoor, and Iskushuban, all of which are districts in the province of Bari, Somalia’s largest region and the site of what could be the first-ever successful well.

Puntland’s minister for international cooperation, Abdulkadir Hashi, had earlier stated to the Guardian and the Observer newspapers, both based in the UK, same as BP, that the firm’s expertise in offshore drilling had enticed him to seek out their services first. This leads many to believe that Aluula will be looking at offshore exploration.

The district of Aluula is the northernmost point of Somalia and the easternmost point of Africa, and additionally the district hugs both the Gulf of Aden – serving as the easternmost point of the Gulf in Africa, as well as the Indian Ocean – serving as the northernmost point of that ocean in Africa. Recently, officials in the Somali government, tied to Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, had stated that the Indian Ocean’s offshore potential, which recently began to peak with discoveries of natural gas in Mozambique and Tanzania, may hold as much, if not more than 100 Billion Barrels of crude oil just along the coast of Somalia.

A deal is expected to be struck before the extraction of oil, which both Hashi and exploration teams cite will be happening within just a few weeks time.

http://www.DissidentNation.com

Great news for both the people of Somalia and Somalia itself, hopefully this will boost the economy and improve the standars for millions of somalis.

However, i hope Somalia won't become a lackey in the hands of the West like the gulf monarchies, cause then it will only benefit the companies, not the people itself.

The greatest asset for Somalia and most of HOA is the Somali people, both living there and in the diaspora.

Natural resources is a plus but when there is peace everywhere, Somalis will no doubt make Somalia a profitable country using their natural business and trading abilities.

Edit: Oh and the conference was about trying to limit the influence of Iran/Turkey sphere.

Higher than Kuwait? That's crazy, but then again, nobody thought Venezuela would surpass Saudi Arabia, yet they did.

They need to tell the UK to piss off :ohno:

Why? All of the major Oil-producing countries in the Middle-East started their projects in partnership with the British. I think this is a blessing, it keeps the focus on Somalia, and its a major incentive to provide help with stability and investment. Let the Somali government invite the British, the Chinese, the Koreans, the Brazilians and let the natural resources flow. This will benefit the average citizen significantly, there are to many checks and balances in Somali society for them to tolerate day-light foreign robbery or state-sponsored repression, otherwise the dictator would still be in place.

Down the line when we are back on our feet ''we can do an Iran'' and nationalize the entire Oil-industry, but let us get there first.

Edit: Oh and the conference was about trying to limit the influence of Iran/Turkey sphere.
Limit Turkey's influence, a fellow NATO member?

Good news. After 21 years of limbo, I hope this will help stabilize the country. Stability is the key issue, if that happens plus this much oil, then Somalia will reconstruct quickly Angola style.

Looks like the discovery of this much oil increased the Int'l community's attention to the country. Now the Brits are "caring" through this conference when their main concern is to enter the Somalia oil sector

We have known there is oil for decades. Remember the contracts between US oil companies signed by Barre

Oil in Somalia is not news, it seems now is the time Int Com. think they may be able to get some of the oil (maybe they think it is now safe to drill and explore)

Oil=easy money=greed/corruption=poverty=war. Nigeria has been pumping oil for 50 years, what do we have to show for it?

Somalia has a much smaller population though and more oil (if this is true). Nigeria can't become rich on oil simply because of its population size, not even if it had more oil than Iran.

Oil=easy money=greed/corruption=poverty=war. Nigeria has been pumping oil for 50 years, what do we have to show for it?

Nigeria failing to make it doesn't mean all countries can't make it

Somalis are not exactly silent when unhappy. Undoubtedly the population would make it known if there was corruption/violence and no visible benefits due to oil

The first thing Somalia should do is a buy a shit ton of weapons and drive out the terrorists and the pirates once and for all.

Let's say in a worse case scenario where 90% of the oil-money is eaten by corrupt officials and foreigners, the remaining 10% that trickles into the economy will still have a significant positive impact for local livestock-traders, farmers, shopkeepers, merchants, sailors and major Somali companies in the region, who are all intricately connected.

There is already a conflict, so in this case it will atleast be for something worthy instead of some shitty foreign imported extremist ideology from the East, or an incompatible governing system from the West. I say again, let the natural resources flow, it will trickle down one way or another.

Azmat lol akhi, we already saw what happened after of one of the largest armies in Africa disintergrated in 1991, Somalia. The entire country became awash with weaponry. The first thing Somalia needs to do is built a shitload of schools, hospitals and generate hundreds of thousands of jobs, that will be the greatest deterrent against extremism and piracy.

Azmat lol akhi, we already saw what happened after of one of the largest armies in Africa disintergrated in 1991, Somalia. The entire country became awash with weaponry. The first thing Somalia needs to do is built a shitload of schools, hospitals and generate hundreds of thousands of jobs, that will be the greatest deterrent against extremism and piracy.
+1

An educated middle-class is the greatest weapon against extremism and all the issues that comes with it. But, Somalia should asap invest in a navy to protect it's fishing industry. Pirates will be fought on land.

There is still a fat UN arms-embargo in place, otherwise Turkish Military Companies and the UAE would have already supplied Somalia with naval and other military hardware.

The arms embargo means nothing, just a useless piece of paper like almost everything else that comes out of UN.

Weapons have still been in/out of Somalia for years and it can't be done without our neighbours playing a role.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if that kind of oil was confirmed in Somalia. The entire East African region is pretty much the least explored in the world.

A few weeks ago an article was posted somewhere on SSC Africa that said that out of the more than 33,000 wells drilled in Africa, less than 500 were in the East Africa region. That's only 1.5% of all the wells in Africa!

And if you think the 33,000 wells in Africa means the continent is well explored, I have news for you. The US dug more than 40,000 wells in 2010 and a total of 2,600,000 wells have been drilled since 1950 on US territory alone.

The US is about 3.8 million sq miles. Africa is 11.7 million sq miles. For our continent to be as well explored as the US, we need 3 times the number of wells drilled in the US - that's more than 8,000,000 wells. We're at 33,000. East Africa only has 500 wells.



Source for US drilling data: http://wilderness.org/files/Fact%20Sheet%20Drilling%20in%20America%20February%202011.pdf

Lailax, no respectable military hardware company is going to risk being penalised by the Security Council by supplying Somalia with tanks and jets. However I do agree with you on one point; the arms-embargo is meaningless to countries like the US and their proxies, because they have send tons and tons of hardware, yet not a single protest from the UN, but when Puntland and the UAE wanted to create a competent anti-Piracy force equipped with helicopters and naval assets, suddenly there were protests from the powers that be. The UN is merely a tool for powerful countries to exert their interests.

but we are digressing. :)

There is still a fat UN arms-embargo in place, otherwise Turkish Military Companies and the UAE would have already supplied Somalia with naval and other military hardware.
I know, but I think the that embargo will be lifted when/if significant amount of oil is found. A little threat of selling the black gold to China will make the west/un think twice.

Let's say in a worse case scenario where 90% of the oil-money is eaten by corrupt officials and foreigners, the remaining 10% that trickles into the economy will still have a significant positive impact for local livestock-traders, farmers, shopkeepers, merchants, sailors and major Somali companies in the region, who are all intricately connected.

There is already a conflict, so in this case it will atleast be for something worthy instead of some shitty foreign imported extremist ideology from the East, or an incompatible governing system from the West. I say again, let the natural resources flow, it will trickle down one way or another.

Azmat lol akhi, we already saw what happened after of one of the largest armies in Africa disintergrated in 1991, Somalia. The entire country became awash with weaponry. The first thing Somalia needs to do is built a shitload of schools, hospitals and generate hundreds of thousands of jobs, that will be the greatest deterrent against extremism and piracy.

Oh Africa. People dont ask for much. Such low expectations!

but we are digressing. :)

Indeed, we are.

Let's celebrate the fact Somalia has been blessed
Ima build myself this;

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gq-d9kN6Dwg/TtxvClIelyI/AAAAAAAACFY/uriiS-66xJU/s1600/the-palace-old-town-resort-dubai.jpg


I kid :D

I despise countries who waste the money that can go to the development on pretty buildings and nothing to show for it

I wouldn't be surprised at all if that kind of oil was confirmed in Somalia. The entire East African region is pretty much the least explored in the world.

A few weeks ago an article was posted somewhere on SSC Africa that said that out of the more than 33,000 wells drilled in Africa, less than 500 were in the East Africa region. That's only 1.5% of all the wells in Africa!

And if you think the 33,000 wells in Africa means the continent is well explored, I have news for you. The US dug more than 40,000 wells in 2010 and a total of 2,600,000 wells have been drilled since 1950 on US territory alone.

The US is about 3.8 million sq miles. Africa is 11.7 million sq miles. For our continent to be as well explored as the US, we need 3 times the number of wells drilled in the US - that's more than 8,000,000 wells. We're at 33,000. East Africa only has 500 wells.

Source for US drilling data: http://wilderness.org/files/Fact%20Sheet%20Drilling%20in%20America%20February%202011.pdf
Great post, puts things in perspective.

Oh Africa. People dont ask for much. Such low expectations!

What do you mean? I clearly said in a worse case scenario, which is highly unlikely, it would still benefit us. That has nothing to do with expectations, but simply highlighting that letting the oil flow is a thousand times better than have it sit in the ground benefitting nobody.

Oh Africa. People dont ask for much. Such low expectations!

:lol:

Why? All of the major Oil-producing countries in the Middle-East started their projects in partnership with the British. I think this is a blessing, it keeps the focus on Somalia, and its a major incentive to provide help with stability and investment. Let the Somali government invite the British, the Chinese, the Koreans, the Brazilians and let the natural resources flow. This will benefit the average citizen significantly, there are to many checks and balances in Somali society for them to tolerate day-light foreign robbery or state-sponsored repression, otherwise the dictator would still be in place.

Down the line when we are back on our feet ''we can do an Iran'' and nationalize the entire Oil-industry, but let us get there first.

True as long as the bold is the end goal.
Somalis shouldn't forget that it was UK which stole the land and gave it to Ethiopia and Kenya, created the borders. Nor that it was Russia/US that flooded the country with weapons which set the stage for the civil war
These countries are not our friends, no country is. Have trading links with them all but I hope we go in with our usual cynical eyes on.

Do business with all of the "traditional" countries which does include US, Russia UK but hold a dagger behind your back and do deals China, Brazil etc.
There should also be a time limit on how long these oil companies can claim the oil/stay in Somalia. 20 years maximum with a get out clause of 15 imho which gives Somalia's Governments the right to withdraw/expel them if it does not benefit and also a clause which states non Somalis cannot buy the land only rent to prevent what has happened across Africa. Foreigners coming in and buying the land to the detriment of the locals.

Great, another great news!! :banana:
Oh Africa. People dont ask for much. Such low expectations!

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

True as long as the bold is the end goal.
Somalis shouldn't forget that it was UK which stole the land and gave it to Ethiopia and Kenya, created the borders. Nor that it was Russia/US that flooded the country with weapons which set the stage for the civil war
These countries are not our friends, no country is. Have trading links with them all but I hope we go in with our usual cynical eyes on.

Do business with all of the "traditional" countries which does include US, Russia UK but hold a dagger behind your back and do deals China, Brazil etc.
There should also be a time limit on how long these oil companies can claim the oil/stay in Somalia. 20 years maximum with a get out clause of 15 imho which gives Somalia's Governments the right to withdraw/expel them if it does not benefit and also a clause which states non Somalis cannot buy the land only rent to prevent what has happened across Africa. Foreigners coming in and buying the land to the detriment of the locals.

You should be president, I think we would rise very fast. :lol: On a related note, rumours are SK Energy from South Korea did try to get a deal a while back and they demanded a 99 year lease, but they were rejected.

You should be president, I think we would rise very fast. :lol: On a related note, rumours are SK Energy from South Korea did try to get a deal a while back and they demanded a 99 year lease, but they were rejected.

Thank you :hug: :D
I want to get into politics inshallah, I will do so by creating business and jobs when I return home.

Somalis should be the owners of their own resources and future.

Indeed, we are.

Let's celebrate the fact Somalia has been blessed
Ima build myself this;

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gq-d9kN6Dwg/TtxvClIelyI/AAAAAAAACFY/uriiS-66xJU/s1600/the-palace-old-town-resort-dubai.jpg


I kid :D

I despise countries who waste the money that can go to the development on pretty buildings and nothing to show for it

Kkkkk, you remind of all the Qurbo-joog Somalis who had unpacked for good, but are now eying a return to the homeland. :lol: A significant oil-find that manages to transform the country would surely attract the diaspora at an even greater rate than today. This ish is going to fast for me though, I haven't even positioned myself yet - buying land now would be a smart investment. :D

This ish is going to fast for me though, I haven't even positioned myself yet - buying land now would be a smart investment. :D

:rofl:

Like bees to honey, the rest of the world would be reeling from the flood of Somalis leaving.

I've always wanted to return to Somaliland when older
My family have land in Gabiley, Hargesia and Berbera. Always wanted to start a IT company which is my interest. Maybe teach computer science in school
But politics is looking more and more interesting ;)

:rofl:

Like bees to honey, the rest of the world would be reeling from the flood of Somalis leaving.

The closet supremacists would certainly celebrate, but who cares right? :lol:

I've always wanted to return to Somaliland when older
My family have land in Gabiley, Hargesia and Berbera. Always wanted to start a IT company which is my interest. Maybe teach computer science in school
But politics is looking more and more interesting ;)

That is a great dream sister, but politics is like the Ring of Sauron, it will eventually corrupt you if you stay in it for too long, but hey we haven't had a female dictator since Araweelo, so knock yourself out. :lol:

True as long as the bold is the end goal.
Somalis shouldn't forget that it was UK which stole the land and gave it to Ethiopia and Kenya, created the borders. Nor that it was Russia/US that flooded the country with weapons which set the stage for the civil war
These countries are not our friends, no country is. Have trading links with them all but I hope we go in with our usual cynical eyes on.

Do business with all of the "traditional" countries which does include US, Russia UK but hold a dagger behind your back and do deals China, Brazil etc.
There should also be a time limit on how long these oil companies can claim the oil/stay in Somalia. 20 years maximum with a get out clause of 15 imho which gives Somalia's Governments the right to withdraw/expel them if it does not benefit and also a clause which states non Somalis cannot buy the land only rent to prevent what has happened across Africa. Foreigners coming in and buying the land to the detriment of the locals.

That would never happen in Somalia. Somalis are too territorial, we fight over little wells, so what makes you think they would let outsiders buy our land?:lol:
I even heard that during the colonial days non Somalis weren't allowed to give birth in Somalia:lol: I think the wisdom behind it was to stop non-natives making claims to the lands through birth rights, not sure if its true though.

The closet supremacists would certainly celebrate, but who cares right? :lol:

They forget we keep our passports which means we can return when we like and no doubt we'd pop back to give birth to our children (so they have a passport) and then leave as a fail safe plan :lol:

That is a great dream sister, but politics is like the Ring of Sauron, it will eventually corrupt you if you stay in it for too long, but hey we haven't had a female dictator since Araweelo, so knock yourself out. :lol:

I'd be a loving dictator albeit slightly nationalist. I'd campaign for Somali interests and would get back our rightful la.... oh wait :shifty:

They forget we keep our passports which means we can return when we like and no doubt we'd pop back to give birth to our children (so they have a passport) and then leave as a fail safe plan :lol:

I'd be a loving dictator albeit slightly nationalist. I'd campaign for Somali interests and would get back our rightful la.... oh wait :shifty:

You made me spill my drink all over my monitor. :lol:

That would never happen in Somalia. Somalis are too territorial, we fight over little wells, so what makes you think they would let outsiders buy our land?:lol:
I even heard that during the colonial days non Somalis weren't allowed to give birth in Somalia:lol: I think the wisdom behind it was to stop non-natives making claims to the lands through birth rights, not sure if its true though.

:rofl:

It's so true but it's good to have it down on ink. I remember that as well, it was in a treaty between one of the colonial countries and Somalia. Britain and Somaliland if I remember correctly.

a flood of good news from Somalia lately, I can feel the East Africa region is at least more focused these days

@oil, only 33,000 wells in all of Africa? thats :nuts: , yet we hear about new oil finds almost daily (sierra leone and liberia being the latest). Alot of potential yet

They forget we keep our passports which means we can return when we like and no doubt we'd pop back to give birth to our children (so they have a passport) and then leave as a fail safe plan :lol:


:lol::lol::lol:

ok

Now that they have oil

how does minor players in London would get money at this stage?

in short how does one get into the oil business at this stage?

I know negotiators will be getting all sorts of commissions since everyone wants to pamper them but what about outsiders such as ordinary joe in the west with 2 degrees but cant find a job?

Who's "us"?

who is us exactly?

Us?

Edit: :lol:

Who's "us"?

Us?

Edit: :lol:

I meant to say average joe

apologies for mis understanding

I know negotiators will be getting all sorts of commissions since everyone wants to pamper them but what about outsiders such as ordinary joe in the west with 2 degrees but cant find a job?


HUH. What has any of that got to do with Somalia and its oil?

U.K. in Talks With Somalia’s Puntland About Oil, Observer Says

By Catherine Airlie - Feb 26, 2012 2:11 PM GMT

Officials from the U.K. and Somalia’s Puntland region are in talks about oil reserves in the north eastern part of the African country, the Observer reported, citing an interview with Abdulkadir Abdi Hashi, minister for international cooperation in the state of Puntland.

U.K. officials will help Somalia “maximize future earnings” from oil, Abdi Hashi was reported to have said. Puntland is expected to produce its first oil next month, according to the report. -- BLOOMBERG (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-26/u-k-in-talks-with-somalia-s-puntland-about-oil-observer-says.html)

What do they mean ''produce first oil next month'', shouldn't there be a pipeline to Bosaso Port first? Unless they mean produce as in a successful exploration and find?

True as long as the bold is the end goal.
Somalis shouldn't forget that it was UK which stole the land and gave it to Ethiopia and Kenya, created the borders. Nor that it was Russia/US that flooded the country with weapons which set the stage for the civil war
These countries are not our friends, no country is. Have trading links with them all but I hope we go in with our usual cynical eyes on.

Do business with all of the "traditional" countries which does include US, Russia UK but hold a dagger behind your back and do deals China, Brazil etc.
There should also be a time limit on how long these oil companies can claim the oil/stay in Somalia. 20 years maximum with a get out clause of 15 imho which gives Somalia's Governments the right to withdraw/expel them if it does not benefit and also a clause which states non Somalis cannot buy the land only rent to prevent what has happened across Africa. Foreigners coming in and buying the land to the detriment of the locals.
They gave it to Kenya which is also artificial?:lol:

They gave it to Kenya which is also artificial?:lol:

Yes I had to wince a few times when she wrote that. African tribes have ruled independently for thousands of years. Saying "they stole land from our country" doesn't make much sense since Somalia's borders were established by the same people who established Kenya's, Ethiopia's, etc. All borders are created by man if not by geography.

Somali qabils whose land were then given to Non Somalis against the wishes of the people :|

I didn't realize I had to spell it out so clearly, I forget my audience sometimes.
I won't make the same mistake next time, every Somali on here would have known what I meant especially as Somalia has a history of where "our land" is even before the Europeans entered

Edit:
Here is a visual representation for what I meant and I'm sure everyone can see the difference from the coloured lines and highlighted lands.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iYHUDnf44gw/TNjVx7hZWII/AAAAAAAAObU/Oi_1Ekfwotc/s1600/somali-clans.jpg

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/25/somalia-alshabaab-oil-west

Somalia promises west oil riches as diplomats vow to defeat al-Shabaab

They expect the oil to flow within weeks. Coming from two miles underground, the crude should reach the arid plains of Puntland in the north-east corner of Somalia by April.

Around the same time, Somali diplomats say an offensive against al-Shabaab militia in the south of the country, backed by US drone strikes, should have damaged the Islamist group's "effective fighting capability".

Meanwhile, the UN plans to impose trade sanctions on the illicit international trade in charcoal, Somalia's "black gold" which not only funds al-Shabaab but also destroys the country's forests and led in part to last year's widespread famine.

Yes I had to wince a few times when she wrote that. African tribes have ruled independently for thousands of years. Saying "they stole land from our country" doesn't make much sense since Somalia's borders were established by the same people who established Kenya's, Ethiopia's, etc. All borders are created by man if not by geography.

Not true, Somalis were already a well defined nation with one language, one religion, one culture and one specific homeland dominated by them both nomadically and from an urban persepective, so they had a concept of ''country'' long before the colonialists came.

In any case this is all irrelevant to the main topic.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012...abaab-oil-west

Somalia promises west oil riches as diplomats vow to defeat al-Shabaab

They expect the oil to flow within weeks. Coming from two miles underground, the crude should reach the arid plains of Puntland in the north-east corner of Somalia by April.

Around the same time, Somali diplomats say an offensive against al-Shabaab militia in the south of the country, backed by US drone strikes, should have damaged the Islamist group's "effective fighting capability".

Meanwhile, the UN plans to impose trade sanctions on the illicit international trade in charcoal, Somalia's "black gold" which not only funds al-Shabaab but also destroys the country's forests and led in part to last year's widespread famine.

Good news.

Not true, Somalis were already a well defined nation with one language, one religion, one culture and one specific homeland dominated by them both nomadically and from an urban persepective, so they had a concept of ''country'' long before the colonialists came.

In any case this is all irrelevant to the main topic.

Somalia's borders were established by Europeans. The fact that you even said that Somalis were historically nomadic therefore how would it be possible for them to have a state? Nation-states are European in concept anyway. A Somali could roam as far down as the equator, does that mean it is all Somali territory? If they had such a concept of "country" then there would not be bloodshed that we witnessed in the last twenty one years.

"Country" is something that is relatively new to all Africans. Any African talking about his country in a historical context needs to hit the books but I digress.

NY, you have a different concept of country than we do. For us, a country is a boundary shared by one people - in this case, Somalis. For you, a country is any piece of territory controlled by a henchman.

NY, you have a different concept of country than we do. For us, a country is a boundary shared by one people - in this case, Somalis. For you, a country is any piece of territory controlled by a henchman.

A country is a legal term/boundary. Your definition is not a country but that of a nation. The Somali nation can span across all four corners of Africa, that does not mean that all of Africa belongs to the Somali nation. Boundaries are always changing, so it's kind of redundant to say that this belongs to so and so.

Somalia's borders were established by Europeans. The fact that you even said that Somalis were historically nomadic therefore how would it be possible for them to have a state? Nation-states are European in concept anyway. A Somali could roam as far down as the equator, does that mean it is all Somali territory? If they had such a concept of "country" then there would not be bloodshed that we witnessed in the last twenty one years.

"Country" is something that is relatively new to all Africans. Any African talking about his country in a historical context needs to hit the books but I digress.

Excuse me but Somalis have historic cities in every corner of their traditional homeland, secondly the current borders were established by the Europeans only due to their military superiority, otherwise an historic Somali State like thevnationalist Dervish state would have created a complete different make up of the borders in East Africa. Thirdly your remark about the current situation is pretty cheap and if I wasn't on the phone now I would flood you with info on how Eritrea benefitted from a stable Somalia when most of the world ignored you, yet look at you now questioning Somali statehood. Plenty of countries went through what we are going through today, from the Chinese to the Europeans.

Excuse me but Somalis have historic cities in every corner of their traditional homeland, secondly the current borders were established by the Europeans only due to their military superiority, otherwise an historic Somali State like thevnationalist Dervish state would have created a complete different make up of the borders in East Africa. Thirdly your remark about the current situation is pretty cheap and if I wasn't on the phone now I would flood you with info on how Eritrea benefitted from a stable Somalia when most of the world ignored you, yet look at you now questioning Somali statehood. Plenty of countries went through what we are going through today, from the Chinese to the Europeans.

It wasn't a cheap shot, it's a fact. My posts have never displayed hostility towards Somalis except maybe Lailax because she refuses to follow traditional values set for women.

There are historic sites set all over Africa. That has nothing to do with nation-states. We can all talk about what could have been and so on, but what would be the point of it today?

Lastly Somalia had nothing to do with Eritrea's independence if that is what you are claiming. You didn't send hundreds of thousands of fighters to Eritrea, you didn't send arms, or any of the sort. Somalia showed moral support, I don't see how that is responsible for Eritrea's achievements that you are seeing today. A baseless accusation like that would be insulting to many Eritreans considering that every Eritrean has at least one relative who have his/her life for freedom.


* I've never questioned Somali statehood, but there are Somalis on this board that have called for a separate Somaliland and Puntland. You should speak to them. I'm only concerned about my country's future.

Items I might buy with the oil money (FANTASY)

1. Chinchilla coat, for my trips to Russia to study Military Topographic

http://www.ofb.net/~epstein/sl/0401/20040101b-closeup.jpg

2. Hatteras Yachts non pimped out version 2013


http://i.imgur.com/iaUAE.jpg

3. New mega home in Shiikh hills Somalia

http://i.imgur.com/tEvfN.jpg

4. Girls Girls I do adore :cheers::banana:

:lol: :lol: :lol: Big pimpin'

:lol: :lol: :lol: Big pimpin'

:)

Amazing how fast things are going. The first oil is now expected to be produced next month, so it's now certain that oil is there.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-26/u-k-in-talks-with-somalia-s-puntland-about-oil-observer-says.html

It wasn't a cheap shot, it's a fact. My posts have never displayed hostility towards Somalis except maybe Lailax because she refuses to follow traditional values set for women.
The Chinese civil war saw more deaths than WWII, does that mean there was never a concept of a Chinese State?
There are historic sites set all over Africa. That has nothing to do with nation-states. We can all talk about what could have been and so on, but what would be the point of it today?
That's illogical and tantamount to you dismissing 21st century Japanese claims after let say the Americans carved up pre-Meji Japan and eventually ceded away Japanese populated territory to the Chinese and Koreans, would you really come with the irrelevant argument that there were historic sites all over Asia, when that has nothing to do with historic Japanese sites? Somalis had a defined territory, with various population centers, recognised as such by both the Central powers and the Allied ones, maybe you should look up the Dervish State or the Bevin plan.
Lastly Somalia had nothing to do with Eritrea's independence if that is what you are claiming. You didn't send hundreds of thousands of fighters to Eritrea, you didn't send arms, or any of the sort. Somalia showed moral support, I don't see how that is responsible for Eritrea's achievements that you are seeing today. A baseless accusation like that would be insulting to many Eritreans considering that every Eritrean has at least one relative who have his/her life for freedom.
LOL, come'on man, your current president was a resident of Mogadishu, you think he was there only to enjoy somalia's beaches? Maybe when I'm back on my laptop I can post a few sources that show Somalia did hell of alot more for Eritrea than only moral support.(which in of itself is highly important for any independence group)

Items I might buy with the oil money (FANTASY)

1. Chinchilla coat, for my trips to Russia to study Military Topographic

http://www.ofb.net/~epstein/sl/0401/20040101b-closeup.jpg

2. Hatteras Yachts non pimped out version 2013


http://i.imgur.com/iaUAE.jpg

3. New mega home in Shiikh hills Somalia

http://i.imgur.com/tEvfN.jpg

4. Girls Girls I do adore :cheers::banana:

LOL, have you financially positioned yourself already in the country?

Good luck to somalis, although i doubt somalia has oil, let alone billions of barrels :nuts:

Im still patiently waiting for that breaking news !!!

So far too much speculations and fantasies...

Items I might buy with the oil money (FANTASY)



3. New mega home in Shiikh hills Somalia

http://i.imgur.com/tEvfN.jpg

4. Girls Girls I do adore :cheers::banana:

I would have gone for something bigger.;)

So when will peace come to somalia? I think they should just continue with the oil drilling maybe the oil will bring peace.

LOL, have you financially positioned yourself already in the country?

Waa iska khiyaali sxb, run ha u qaadan. :)

Good luck to somalis, although i doubt somalia has oil, let alone billions of barrels :nuts:

You've got to be a bit a bit retarded to think that, or not very well-read on recent events in Somalia and the early civil war era and how big a part oil played.

American soldiers died in Mogadishu to re-establish a government that would give them security to continue drilling.

And we all know American soldiers only die for the sweetest of oil deals (Kuwait, Iraq, you get the picture).

LOL, come'on man, your current president was a resident of Mogadishu, you think he was there only to enjoy somalia's beaches? Maybe when I'm back on my laptop I can post a few sources that show Somalia did hell of alot more for Eritrea than only moral support.(which in of itself is highly important for any independence group)

We live in an era where evidence speaks. Why did the Somali army quit fighting for Ogaden? Was the army that weak? You can say Soviet assistance helped the Dergue, but the they also helped the Dergue killed thousands of Eritreans yet Eritreans continued to fight until they reached Addis Ababa in 1991. So I'm not going to allow you to take credit for my people's sacrifices just because yours failed to reach its end goal.

Here's a picture of Ethiopian POWs and their colonels caught by the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front. So either post your evidence or shut up dude. My dad has 3 scars from gun shots to prove he's a G. So your silly bravado is falling on deaf ears.

http://www.ertra.com/History_pictures/offensive/39Russian_pow.jpg

This is amusing, NYConcious there is absolutely no reason for you to be so sensitive and hostile about Somali support for your independence struggle, I'm no fabricator, your brethren Mr.Eritrean knows me well enough to back me on this. You caught me at the wrong time, but I will deliver either in this topic, an old Eritrea related topic, or via Pm, depending on what you prefer.

I guess the Somali version of MEND is about to appear if there is any truth to this article

This is amusing, NYConcious there is absolutely no reason for you to be so sensitive and hostile about Somali support for your independence struggle, I'm no fabricator, your brethren Mr.Eritrean knows me well enough to back me on this. You caught me at the wrong time, but I will deliver either in this topic, an old Eritrea related topic, or via Pm, depending on what you prefer.

My bad I quoted you without looking at the username. I thought you were Janub, a user I find to be annoying and pretentious. However, what I quoted I found to be off putting nonetheless. I expect something like that to come from Janub. At the end of the day I don't have a problem with Somalia. I just have a problem with people that want to undermine the achievements of Eritreans. That is all.

The achievement is all yours sxb, I never said it was because of Somalia that you're currently independent, that would be clearly disrespectful. However I too found it disrespectful when you denied what has been Somali territory for the last millenium (at the latest), because you were in the process also denying the self-determination rights of the locals and their historic sacrifices, which I thought was highly ironic since we supporteded your right for self-determination. In any case a responsible oil-wealthy Somalia will certainly be a significant game-changer in the region in the long run(for better or worse).

I guess the Somali version of MEND is about to appear if there is any truth to this article

Why?

The faction exploring right now is the popular faction in their region, total opposite to the Nigerian situation where unpopular leaders are digging and stealing the wealth.

The achievement is all yours sxb, I never said it was because of Somalia that you're currently independent, that would be clearly disrespectful. However I too found it disrespectful when you denied what has been Somali territory for the last millenium (at the latest), because you were in the process also denying the self-determination rights of the locals and their historic sacrifices, which I thought was highly ironic since we supporteded your right for self-determination. In any case a responsible oil-wealthy Somalia will certainly be a significant game-changer in the region in the long run(for better or worse).

I recognize Ogaden for example as Somali territory. But the territory has never been a part of Somalia the nation-state. In the same way Somaliland was administered differently than the Somali Republic. I don't believe any part of Ethiopia except for the Abyssinian parts should be a part of the country simply because these lands were taken through conquests and back end deals with Europeans.

Every people has a right to self-determination, to be against that would make me a hypocrite.

Why?

The faction exploring right now is the popular faction in their region, total opposite to the Nigerian situation where unpopular leaders are digging and stealing the wealth.

It won't be long before the "popular" faction finds out the deceptive power of oil riches and get in a collaboration with all the different players to make themselves rich at the expense of the populace and become the "unpopular" faction.

Oil is like a magnet for corruption be it the Middle East or Nigeria or Angola.

I am not sure if their is any truth to this article but I feel oil will bring riches to a few and heap even more misery to everybody else

I am worried oil in Somalia might lead to the oil version of Shabab.

Forza stop being so pessimist. You know pessimism is contagious?

I recognize Ogaden for example as Somali territory. But the territory has never been a part of Somalia the nation-state. In the same way Somaliland was administered differently than the Somali Republic. I don't believe any part of Ethiopia except for the Abyssinian parts should be a part of the country simply because these lands were taken through conquests and back end deals with Europeans.

Every people has a right to self-determination, to be against that would make me a hypocrite. Somalia had historic predecessors that did include the Ogaden like the Ajuuraan State, which was larger in size than modern Somalia, or more recently the Dervish State, which is considered by scholars a proto-Somalia in a time-period when European and Asian countries like Germany, Italy and Japan were only recently united by their leaders. The Somali homeland was well defined when the Somali nation and their cities, towns, communities, families, trade systems were torn apart by borders that never historically divided them, which is what lailax was originally referring to.

^
To my Eritrean friend, no one is claiming Somalia liberated Eritrea. It was largely fought and died by Eritreans Muslims and Christians alike. But you need not deny Somalia did give moral as well as material support to the Eritreans and the current Ethiopian regime. Both your president and that of Ethiopia stayed in Mogadishu and benefited the Somali state financially and diplomatically to do their activities. They even used our own diplomatic passports. Of course the somali state wanted to see Eritrea secure its independence and it was a success. It also wanted to see the dergue regime lose power by supporting these two rebels and it succeeded. You can say ethiopia succeeded arming Somali rebels to bring down the Somalia state and is still successfull in keeping Somalia divided with huge Western help. While Eritrea tries to arm opposite groups.

Lastly let me correct you, Puntland is not trying to separa
te it just wants a federal Somalia. And yes Somaliland wants to separate as do many other groups in Eritrea and in Ethiopia.

I am worried oil in Somalia might lead to the oil version of Shabab.

At least they'd have a reason to fight then.

Forza stop being so pessimist. You know pessimism is contagious?

Lol haha.

Wasn't trying to be pessimistic. Just stating a possibility.

Mend fought an oil resource fight. Boko Haram is fighting a fundamentalist fight.

A Somali version of Oil rebellion will be a combination of Boko Haram and Mend all rolled up in one.

Maybe this case will be different and lead to many good things though

Somalia had historic predecessors that did include the Ogaden like the Ajuuraan State, which was larger in size than modern Somalia, or more recently the Dervish State, which is considered by scholars a proto-Somalia in a time-period when European and Asian countries like Germany, Italy and Japan were only recently united by their leaders. The Somali homeland was well defined when the Somali nation and their cities, towns, communities, families, trade systems were torn apart by borders that never historically divided them, which is what lailax was originally referring to.

Absolutely. I only had to expand because I forget sometimes that Non Somalis will not understand what we will.

The Somali land has been there for hundreds/thousand years, it has been well defined but rather into a "country" it was into qabils territory but was still all under the banner of Somali. That has not changed nor will Europeans doodling on Africa and slicing it up change that reality as well.

It wasn't a cheap shot, it's a fact. My posts have never displayed hostility towards Somalis except maybe Lailax because she refuses to follow traditional values set for women.


You are not even Somali, you have zero worth when it comes to stating to me what type of role I should/shouldn't play.
Why is the business of an Eritrean what type of woman I, a Somali turn out to be

Most of the Somalis in Kenya are technically relatively recent migrants. Only those who speak Af-Garre (a related but different language) are indigenous there (a small fraction of the population). Most speak standard Somali, which apparently only entered that region around the 19th century.

Most of the Somalis in Kenya are technically relatively recent migrants. Only those who speak Af-Garre (a related but different language) are indigenous there (a small fraction of the population). Most speak standard Somali, which apparently only entered that region around the ~19th century.

Absurd. Absolutely absurd.

Absurd. Absolutely absurd.

Most of the clans there claim to have come from the Northeast recently. Also, I find their dialect to be closer to what is spoken in Puntland compared to the Somaliland (Northwest) dialect. There is no way they have been isolated for very long.