From 1999 till today, Moroccan authorities have massively opened for oil exploration in occupied Western Sahara.
The first map shows oil exploration and reconnaissance contracts awarded in Morocco and Western Sahara as of 1999. The second is from December 2008. Both are produced by the Moroccan state oil company ONHYM (ex-ONAREP).
The 1999 map was found on this presentation given by the Moroccan Minister of Energy, Natural Resources, Water and the Environment, Mrs Aminda ibn Khadr last year before a parliamentary committee.
Irish, British and American firms are behind Morocco's oil exploration in Western Sahara, which the UN has viewed to be in violation of international law.
The hunt for oil and gas
So far, no oil and gas have been discovered in Western Sahara. Two exploration licences are today operated by foreign companies, both from Israel, both offshore.
World's largest fund excludes Israeli oil company over Western Sahara
The Norwegian government pension fund has announced that it has excluded Delek Group from its portfolio due to its petroleum exploration offshore occupied Western Sahara.
Polisario condemns NewMed gas plans
NewMed's gas exploration licence offshore occupied Western Sahara is "illegal”, Polisario lashes out in a release.
Deutsche Bank, BlackRock among owners in occupation oil hunt
Here are the owners of Delek Group which is behind the oil search offshore occupied Western Sahara.