Basque parliament asks companies to stay clear from Western Sahara
Article image
A declaration from the parliament of the Basque Country asked its companies to stay away from the occupied territory.
Published 08 March 2017


The Parliament of the Basque Country on 3 March 2017 approved what is called an "institutional declaration" regarding Spanish and Basque companies in Western Sahara.

The text expresses its concern over the exploitation of resources "in violation of international and European law", and calls on European, Spanish and Basque companies to not engage in operations which prolong the occupation.

It recalled on the obligation to seek the consent of the Saharawi people before undertaking any business activity in Western Sahara and underlined the need for European, Spanish and Basque enterprises not to be involved in Moroccan industries in the occupied territory - such as in fisheries, agriculture, phosphates sand or renewable energies.

The declaration can be found on the website of the Basque parliament [or download], and is also referred to by the Spanish news agency Europapress.

The company from Basque Country with the most recent involvement in Western Sahara, to WSRW's knowledge, is the company Ormazabal which supplied equipment for the construction of the windmills that the Moroccan state phosphate company OCP is using for the phosphate plunder at the Foum El Oued wind park at Bou Craa, Western Sahara.

See references to the Basque delivery in a presentation from Ormazabal. For further information about the Foum El Oued windpark, see the WSRW report "Powering the Plunder" from November 2016.

Ormazabal is based in Zamudio, on the outskirts of Bilbao. WSRW has not been in contact with the company.

Olvea admits activities in occupied Western Sahara

The French fish oil giant concedes presence in the occupied territory. 

09 July 2025

Australia finally finished phosphate imports

The last remaining importer of phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara in Australia has announced that it will no longer purchase the conflict mineral.

08 July 2025

SRI update

The following overview enlists stock-exchange registered companies with current or recent operations in occupied Western Sahara. Updated 8 July 2025.

08 July 2025

What happened to the Dakhla bitcoin wind park?

The long-promised Bitcoin wind farm in occupied Western Sahara has seemingly come to a complete standstill.

03 July 2025