Turkey announces 20 bln barrel oil field discovery in East Africa

Turkish explorations offshore Somalia led to the discovery of commercially viable crude oil,estimated at 20 billion barrels.

Turkey and Somalia had signed a deal under which Turkey controls 90% of oil and gas output rights.

The deal triggered criticism for its unfavorable terms for Somalia,a war-torn and cash-strapped country.

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has defended the agreement,highlighting its benefits for unlocking the country’s energy sector.

Major oil and gas companies withdrew from exploration deal after the outbreak of the 1991 war in the country,which was followed by decades-long instability.