See photos of the vessel 'Christine O' arriving at port Risdon, Hobart, Tasmania, yesterday afternoon. The vessel contained phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara, purchased by Impact Fertilisers.
The importer, Impact Fertilisers, has admitted to carry out such imports. Since earlier this year, Impact is majority owned by the Swiss firm Ameropa. Last week, 8 Swiss parliamentarians urged Ameropa to instruct its Tasmanian subsidiary to halt the imports.
Western Sahara has been occupied by Moroccan since 1975. UN has stated that the exploitation of the territory's resources cannot take place unless the people of the territory has been given its consent, something which they have not. The UN still treats Western Sahara as a Non-Self Governing Territory, pending the process of decolonisation.
New report: Western Sahara phosphate trade halved
The export of phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara has never been lower than in 2019. This is revealed in the new WSRW report P for Plunder, published today.
New report on Western Sahara phosphate industry out now
Morocco shipped 1.93 million tonnes of phosphate out of occupied Western Sahara in 2018, worth an estimated $164 million, new report shows. Here is all you need to know about the volume, values, vessels and clients.
New report on contentious Western Sahara phosphate trade
Morocco shipped over 1.5 million tonnes of phosphate out of occupied Western Sahara in 2017, to the tune of over $142 million. But the number of international importers of the contentious conflict mineral is waning, WSRW's annual report shows.
New report on global phosphate trade from occupied Western Sahara
Over 200 million dollars worth of phosphate rock was shipped out of occupied Western Sahara last year, a new report from WSRW shows. For the first time, India is among the top importers.