US oil firm Kosmos Energy plans to start exploration drilling in occupied Western Sahara in October or November this year, writes Upstream Online today.
According to Upstream Online, Kosmos regional director Ragnar Fredsted said the company will look to sink Gargaa-1 — the first probe off the non-self-governed territory of Western Sahara — in October or November, targeting Lower Cretaceous fans in about 2000 metres of water.
“The size of this (Cap Boujdour block) is incredible. It has the possibility for multiple working petroleum systems, different play concepts and nothing has ever been discovered,” said Fredsted at the Energy Institute’s International Petroleum Week conference this week.
The United Nations have clearly stated that any further exploration or exploitation of oil in Western Sahara is in violation of international law.
However, completely misreading the UN legal opinion on the matter, Fredsted claims that there is no problem, as he believes that the Moroccan government has the legal right to issue exploration licences but, in the event of any production, the people of Western Sahara must benefit.
Western Sahara Resource Watch is deeply concerned over Kosmos' plans.
"Kosmos Energy's support to Morocco in developing a future oil production in the occupied territory constitutes a serious blow to the UN peace efforts, directly disturbing the difficult peace talks. Kosmos' management should consider how their company contributes to the continued sufferings of the Saharawi people, and immediately halt its plans", stated Erik Hagen, chair of Western Sahara Resource Watch.
The UN legal opinion says that any such activity should happen in accordance to the wishes and the interests of the people of Western Sahara, the Saharawi. Nor Kosmos, nor its partners Cairn Energy and the Moroccan state-owned ONHYM, have ever obtained the consent from the Saharawi people.
The Advocate General of the EU’s top Court backs the legal status of the people of Western Sahara. Final Judgment expected in a few months.
Labelling those products as originating in the Kingdom of Morocco instead of originating in Western Sahara breaches EU law, the Advocate General of the EU Court of Justice concludes.
After undertaking work for the Moroccan state phosphate company in Western Sahara, the Danish consultancy giant COWI states that it “will not engage in further projects" in the occupied territory.
An external evaluation report on the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement 2019-2023 confirms that the agreement revolves, in its entirety, around Western Sahara.