These last days, a vessel has been unloading phosphates from the occupied Western Sahara at the harbour of Ghent (Belgium). The importer of these phosphates is believed to be chemical giant BASF.
Filming: Solidarity Group Western Sahara, Belgium
Editing: Torgrim Ødegård
When the Novigrad arrived at the harbour of Ghent, it is probable that it contained around 25.000 tons of phosphates originating from the Bu Craa mines, that are located in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.
According to sources in Belgium the importer of the phosphates is BASF.
Today , the international price for phosphates is about 490 US $ per ton, which would mean that BASF should have paid 12.2 million US $ for the Saharan phosphates. This sum of money, however, will not have gone to the Sahrawi people nor the Saharan government, but will be transferred to the Moroccan state-owned phosphate company OCP (Office Chérifien des Phosphates). If our Belgian sources are right, it would mean that BASF has thus paid an occupying power for the illegal and unethical exploitation of non-renewable resources from an occupied territory.
Doing business with the Moroccan authorities regarding the natural resources of Western Sahara is highly unethical and politically controversial. Furthermore, the exploitation and trade of these resources constitutes a violation of international law, as is clearly stated in e.g. UN Legal Opinion S/2002/161 given to the Security Council.
The Belgian WSRW branch, Solidariteitsgroep Westelijke Sahara, has contacted BASF today, but the company was unable to confirm the alleged import and told us that any comment would have to be obtained from Germany.
The deadweight of the Croatian flagged Novigrad is 27.112 tons. It's IMO number is 9244037.
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