Moroccan media reported yesterday, 26 November 2014, that Swiss company Terra Sola Group AG, a one-stop shop developer for solar energy, has signed contracts with the Moroccan government to build 16 photovoltaic plants in Morocco. But several of the reported solar sites are not in Morocco, but in the parts of Western Sahara that have been illegally occupied by Morocco since 1975.
The seven sites that have already been identified include Ouarzazate and Ain Bni Mathar in Morocco proper, and Foum Al Oued and Boujdour in occupied Western Sahara. The Sebkat Tah area, just north of border between Morocco and Western Sahara, has also been included in the list.
Each plant will have a capacity of 25 megawatts.
Terra Sola is said to soon launch the construction and aims through its forthcoming listing on the Berlin Stock Exchange, aiming for a € 50 million contribution.
Morocco's renewable energy plans in occupied Western Sahara aren't new. In August 2013, WSRW published the report "Dirty Green March" on Morocco's wind and solar projects in the territory at the time, further connecting the territory it illegally occupies to its own and making the illegal extractive and fishing industry more lucrative. By 2020, Morocco aims to increase Western Sahara's share in Morocco's total energy production to 26,4%, up from 5,5% in 2013.
One of the richest coastlines in the world
The fish stocks of occupied Western Sahara have not only attracted the interest of the Moroccan fleet: other foreign interests are also fishing in the occupied waters through arrangements with Moroccan counterparts. Along the Western Saharan coastline, a processing industry has emerged.
The CJEU Court Cases
Keeping track of the many legal proceedings relating to Western Sahara is not easy. This page offers an overview of the cases concerning the territory that have been before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
Tūhana human rights advisors ignore human rights
A consultancy hired to assess phosphate imports from occupied Western Sahara into New Zealand concludes there is no problem.
MEPs push back on Commission over Western Sahara in EU–Morocco trade
MEPs from across the political spectrum sharply criticised the European Commission over its handling of EU-Morocco trade relations covering occupied Western Sahara, raising concerns over legality, transparency and an apparent disregard for Parliament’s role.