We had the privilege this week to talk to Abdillahi Mohamud, Managing Director of the East Africa Energy Forum, a lobby group dedicated to implementing proper regulatory measures concerning oil and gas exploration in Somalia.
Abdillahi Mohamud answered seven key questions regarding his background, organization, and his organization’s take on Somalia’s drilling history and current programs.
Dissident Nation: What is your background in oil and natural gas?
Abdillahi Mohamud: I have worked the past several years in the North American petroleum industry as an exploration geophysicist and drilling engineer specializing in tight reservoir oil and gas extraction.
Dissident Nation: How did the EAEF come into being?
Abdillahi Mohamud: The EAEF was a result of an initial group of Somali oil and gas professionals around the world that exchanged views and ideas for 2 years prior to sanctioning the creation of a group that would lobby for the national interests of Somalia in the oil and gas resource industry.
Dissident Nation: What role, if any, do you believe natural resources will play in the development of Somalia’s economy and infrastructure?
Abdillahi Mohamud: I believe natural resources are a great blessing for Somalia from God, surely we must be thankful for it. The country boasts the largest coastline in Africa and immense natural resources, the epitome of them being oil and gas. This will require massive infrastructure projects and will see the redevelopment of Somalia in a matter of few years. Yes there are concerns of Somalia turning into Nigeria with a corrupt petroleum industry, but with a bit of work and a whole lot of nationalism in our government and power brokers, Somalia will certainly benefit from its resource wealth.
Dissident Nation: Do you believe the current political situation in Somalia is currently, or has in the past been influenced by the country’s resource potential?
Abdillahi Mohamud: I don’t believe our resource potential has protracted this conflict, this 22 year crisis is by and large a lethal combination of corrupt Somali politicians benefiting from the chaos, exhaustive foreign meddling on the part of neighbors and the UN, and the rooted tribe-before-country mentality embedded in Somali society.
Dissident Nation: What is your educated estimate of Somalia’s total oil and natural gas reserves?
Abdillahi Mohamud: The EAEF’s team of engineers are currently working on our own internal estimates for the country’s total in-place reserves, likely in the 40-80 billion barrels recoverable range. This project will provide the Somali people and government extra ammo at the negotiating table by knowing beforehand what their resources are worth. It also will force foreign oil companies to be transparent and non-corrupt in their estimates.
Dissident Nation: What was your initial thought when you heard that Puntland would start drilling for oil earlier this year, and what is your opinion about the program?
Abdillahi Mohamud: I was undoubtedly concerned. The Puntland government has a history of selling its resources short in exchange for futile signing bonuses for the region’s leadership. How can you dish out oil concessions to foreign companies without a robust national or even regional oil law? It also shows the risk these companies are willing to engage in which is concerning. Nevertheless, we have a monitoring group following every footstep of this development and reporting it to the Somali people and we will continue to do so.
Dissident Nation: Do you have any rapport with the exploration teams or leadership in Puntland, and if so can you sum the current progress and expectations concerning the program?
Abdillahi Mohamud: We have had conversations with both Puntland and TFG government officials regarding this program, as we provide non-biased information and opinions. The Shabeel wells programs in Puntland will continue until completion, although last week the north well hit a water formation where they thought oil may have been located. Nevertheless, from a technical point of view our lobby group is researching the target Jessoma formation in the region to determine which drilling locations would yield oil in the region.
{DN Staff Writers}
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