Western Sahara Resource Watch

Saharawi group condemns French-American oil hunt

The plans of Kosmos Energy and Total in occupied Western Sahara angers The Saharawi natural resources group, Observatorio Saharaui de Recursos Naturales in a statement today.

Published 07 February 2014

Saharawi government responds to oil development in Western Sahara

The Saharawi government has today issued a press release on the plans of petroleum firms Cairn Energy PLC and Kosmos Energy LLC for exploratory drilling in the waters of occupied Western Sahara in 2014. Read their statement here.

Published 20 November 2013

Kosmos Energy defends its unethical oil programme

The oil journal African Energy published in its latest issue a large story about Kosmos Energy’s oil programme in Western Sahara. Kosmos defends its operations.

Published 19 November 2013

Kosmos announced drilling and new partner in occupied Sahara

UK oil company Cairn Energy has partnered with Kosmos Energy to drill in occupied Western Sahara. Such activities are in violation of international law, according to the UN.

Published 08 November 2013

Kosmos could commence drilling next year in occupied Sahara

The US oil company Kosmos Energy has contracted a rig from Atwood Oceanics for drilling next year. There is a large chance that drilling will take place in occupied Western Sahara, for the first time since the UN said it would be illegal.

Published 13 June 2013

WSRW urges Chevron to end oil exploration upon Kosmos take-over

Several news media have in the last weeks mentioned Chevron’s interest in acquiring Kosmos Energy. Kosmos holds an extensive agreement with the Moroccan government for oil exploration in Boujdour, occupied Western Sahara. WSRW has today asked Chevron to tackle this objectionable business upon a possible take-over.

Published 10 January 2013

Fugro stopped Western Sahara work for lack of consultation

The CEO of the Dutch seismic company that used to work in occupied Western Sahara has now explained their 2009 pullout.

Published 19 June 2012

Anadarko with no role in Western Sahara block

The US oil company Anadarko (ex-Kerr-McGee) said they have no role in the development of the Kosmos Energy's block offshore Western Sahara.

Published 08 April 2012

Kosmos Energy signed new petroleum agreement

US oil company Kosmos Energy has signed a renewed petroleum agreement for offshore occupied Western Sahara. The new area reduces its illegal acreage off Western Sahara with a third.

Published 23 August 2011

Kosmos Energy prolongations

The agreement signed between Kosmos and the Moroccan government for illegal oil exploration offshore occupied Western Sahara has been prolonged on several occasions.

Published 23 August 2011

Correspondence with Anadarko, regarding cooperation with Kosmos Energy

Anadarko (ex-Kerr-McGee) cooperates with Kosmos Energy. But does this cooperation cover works on occupied Western Sahara? WSRW awaits response.

Published 23 August 2011

This is Kosmos Energy

The Texas based company Kosmos Energy is today the only oil company working for Morocco offshore occupied Western Sahara. The exploration agreement is in violation of international law.

Published 29 July 2011

Kosmos Energy violates the law, Sahrawi republic says

The US oil firm Kosmos Energy is contributing to the illegal occupation of Western Sahara, and violates both international law and Western Sahara law, according to the representatives of the people of the territory.

Published 23 March 2011

Kosmos Energy prolongs Sahara oil exploration

The US firm Kosmos Energy has signed yet another prolongation of their illegal oil deal in Western Sahara. According to the UN, oil exploration in Western Sahara is in violation of international law.

Published 09 February 2011

WSRW asks international banks to suspend Kosmos funding

Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) has asked international banks to halt further funding of the US oil firm Kosmos Energy. The company is exploring for oil offshore occupied Western Sahara.

Published 09 December 2010

Fugro surprise party at University of Oslo

When Fugro Norway was to promote itself on the Business days at the University of Oslo on 28 September, they were welcomed with cake. In 2009, Fugro was refused to attend the same event due to their engagement in occupied Western Sahara. Since then, the firm has withdrawn from the occupied territory.

Published 03 October 2010

Seismic services company renounces further Western Sahara involvement

Dutch seismic services firm Fugro NV, and its Norwegian subsidiary Fugro-Geoteam, state they do not want to undertake any more assignments in Western Sahara under the current political situation in the country.

Published 06 May 2010

Norwatch: Controversial Oil Exploration Finished

The Norwegian seismic company Fugro-Geoteam has completed its controversial exploration offshore occupied Western Sahara. Their employer’s plans to become established on the Canary Islands have aroused strong reactions. Norwatch, 15 April 2009.

Published 02 May 2009

Polisario protests plundering

On 8th April 2008, Polisario sent a letter to the Security Council protesting the plundering of Western Sahara. The letter has now been published as an official document of both the General Assembly (A/63/871) and the Security Council (S/2009/198).

Published 20 April 2009

Tenerife News: Canary Islands face a new dilemma

Is an oil war about to erupt in the middle of the Atlantic, with the Canary Islands embroiled right in the middle of the conflict? Tenerife News, 16 April 2009.

Published 19 April 2009