China's state oil company, CNPC, through its subsidiary BGP, owns a vessel that is now operating in Western Sahara's waters. 

The vessel arrived Western Sahara on 26 October. The red track shows its movements from 26 October until now. The blue track represents the vessel's movements the last 6 days. It has during the entire period been operating in the waters west of Dakhla.

It was only few days ago that WSRW discovered Total's massive block in Western Sahara. Yesterday, WSRW wrote that Total had carried out exploration of the waters this summer through the UK company Gardline. The Chinese involvement through BGP could be Total's second exploration programme in the territory this summer/autumn.

The vessel, BGP Prospector, is present on the block that Total has acquired. WSRW has never seen any reference to this programme in media or on the internet. Total's licence was reportedly signed on 6 December 2011, and could be ending today, 12 months later. The question now is whether they intend to renew, stop the programme, or convert the licence into a different kind of agreement. 

The request below was 6 December 2012 sent to the Chinese companies BGP and CNPC.

BGP 
P.O.Box 11
Zhuozhou Hebei
072751 P.R.China
Oslo, 6 Dec 2012

Regarding your seismographic vessel offshore Western Sahara 

Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) has taken note of the fact that your seismographic research vessel BGP Prospector (IMO number 9545986) is currently located offshore Dakhla, Western Sahara. http://www.bgp.com.cn/09/service/Acq_Marine_5.htm 

We observe that the vessel entered the waters of Western Sahara on October 26th, and is still operating there. 

As you probably know, Morocco illegally occupies parts of the territory. The UN Legal Office has stated that further exploration of the natural resources off Western Sahara would be in violation of international law if the people of the territory do not consent and if they do not benefit from them. See the UN 2002 legal opinion on www.arso.org/Olaeng.pdf 

It is in WSRW’s opinion that oil exploration activities in Western Sahara in cooperation with the Moroccan state oil company directly contribute to undermine the UN peace process in Western Sahara, and the rights of the people of the territory. 

In line with the UN legal opinion, we appeal to BGP’s and CNPC’s own statements of Corporate Social 
Responsibility to immediately terminate its activities in Western Sahara. 

Furthermore, WSRW would like an answer from BGP, or from your mother company CNPC, on the following questions:

a) Exactly what kind of activity is BGP Prospector currently carrying out offshore Western Sahara? 
b) On behalf of which party/parties does BGP undertake the activities?

Looking forward to your response,

For your information, this request has also been published on our webpages, www.wsrw.org. Copy of this request has been sent to CNPC press centre, at admin_eng@cnpc.com.cn

(sign.)

Erik Hagen
Chair, Western Sahara Resource Watch
Oslo, Norway