News about San Leon Energy
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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. 

Published 28 August 2024
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The Irish organisation GLAN today filed a complaint against the Irish/UK oil company San Leon Energy for violating the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
 

Published 24 October 2018
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The private owned Chinese company China Great United Petroleum (Holding) Limited could be close to taking over controversial rights to onshore oil exploration in occupied Western Sahara.
Published 02 July 2017
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Irish/UK oil company San Leon Energy's work in occupied Western Sahara is delayed, and the company claims to the Moroccan government that it is due to "regional security situation".

Published 26 April 2017
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Irish oil company San Leon confirms that an unknown Chinese investor is sniffing on a majority stake in the company. San Leon is looking for oil in occupied Western Sahara, in violation of international law.

Published 04 January 2017
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The oil block named "Tarfaya Onshore", overlapping the border between Morocco and the occupied territory of Western Sahara, in still unresolved, a newly published oil map reveals.

Published 15 November 2016
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San Leon Energy's controversial oil programme in occupied Western Sahara might continue with more drilling, according to company.

Published 22 September 2016
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The San Leon Energy/PetroMaroc study at the Zag block in occupied Western Sahara is delayed and the partners are penalized by Moroccan authorities. PetroMaroc's future is hanging by a thread.

Published 18 August 2016
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Kosmos and Cairn have renewed their licence - but did San Leon Energy abandon one of its licences? A new map from ONHYM suggests changes to the highly controversial oil exploration in the occupied territory.

Published 31 July 2016
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In recent months, several investment firms have relinquished their interests in companies that are involved in the natural resource exploitation of occupied Western Sahara. Here are 21 of them.
Published 27 June 2016
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Today, the Norwegian government pension fund excluded San Leon Energy Plc from its investment portfolios.

Published 04 March 2016
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Massive numbers of Saharawi refugees gathered last weekend to send a clear message to Irish oil company San Leon Energy which is looking for oil in their occupied homeland: "San Leon: go home". Find high resolution footage of the protest, free of charge.

Published 15 October 2015
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Irish oil company San Leon Energy's exploratory drilling operation in occupied Western Sahara revealed the presence of gas, but thus far not of petroleum. The company will apply for a new licence with the Moroccan government and announces further seismic surveys to explore the potential petroleum reservoirs.
Published 01 October 2015

WSRW has received footage of the drilling operation to take place in the territory under Moroccan occupation.

Published 09 September 2015
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Amid Saharawi protests, San Leon Energy has begun to drill an onshore well in occupied Western Sahara on 21 August.

Published 31 August 2015
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Saharawis in the occupied parts of Western Sahara continue to speak out against Irish/UK company San Leon Energy's plans to drill for oil in their homeland. "Stop supporting brutal occupation of Western Sahara", they say.

Published 12 August 2015


These videos of Saharawis denouncing the Irish/UK oil company's plans on the land they inhabit were shot last week. The persons live in occupied Western Sahara, exactly on the block where San Leon's drilling will take place in August, in violation of international law.
Published 27 July 2015
San Leon Energy "has the long-term interest of Morocco in mind", company chairman Oisin Fanning stated to Irish media today. The company plans drilling in the territory under illegal Moroccan occupation.
Published 23 July 2015
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“We urgently request that the Secretary-General condemn these activities, which are in clear violation of international law", the President of the Western Sahara Republic wrote in a letter to Ban Ki-Moon.
Published 20 July 2015
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Irish company is to drill for occupying power Morocco. Saharawi refugees who were forcibly displaced following the occupation, protest their plans.

Published 20 July 2015
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Irish/UK oil company San Leon Energy stated to Irish media today that next month's drilling is located in "Moroccan Southern Provices". Only one government in the world labels the occupied territory in similar way: Morocco. Irish lawyers warn of legal steps.
Published 13 July 2015
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The UK/Irish company San Leon is planning to drill in Western Sahara in a few weeks from now, even though UN says further exploration is illegal. WSRW condemns the plans. 
Read also: Western Sahara is part of Morocco, San Leon states before drilling

Published 13 July 2015
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San Leon in September purchased PetroMaroc's ownership in the so-called Tarfaya oil block, partially located in occupied Western Sahara.

Published 07 November 2014
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San Leon Energy "is offering interested parties the opportunity to acquire a material equity" in return of driling on its Tarfaya block according to a document from the company today. WSRW warns future investors from entering the uethical block.
Published 02 July 2013
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The planned drilling of a well on the Zag block in - most probably - occupied Western Sahara has now been set to first half of 2014.

Published 13 January 2013
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In protest of unemployment and the plunder of their natural resources, 7 Saharawi youth occupied the UN offices of Smara, Western Sahara, this week. The protest took place on the same place where Morocco is currently looking for gas.

Published 05 October 2012
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The Irish company San Leon Energy has published a map on its webpages showing how they carried out oil search on occupied land.

Published 22 February 2012
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The Irish oil firm stated today that it had completed its seismic services in "Morocco". The release fails to mention that the exploration was in fact done in occupied Western Sahara. The UN states such search to be in violation of international law.
Published 24 January 2012
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British oil firm Longreach Oil & Gas yesterday announced that they are currently undertaking seismic studies in occupied Western Sahara. The studies are carried out in violation of international law.

Published 22 November 2011
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"I have no problem in stating, in retrospect, that it might have been a bad idea to take this assignment”, CEO of seismic services firm Spectrum ASA told media today. Now, Irish oil minor San Leon has to find another subcontractor to process the geological data they collect from the occupied territory in violation of international law.

Published 22 September 2011
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The Irish firm San Leon disagrees with the UN and the Irish government. “They are not a representative people”, the firm stated to Irish national TV.
Published 08 August 2011
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San Leon’s seismic surveys will be conducted in the northern parts of occupied Western Sahara from July 2011, in violation of international law. Placements from investor George Soros might have been crucial.

Published 21 July 2011
The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs says he is aware of San Leon\'s engagement in Western Sahara, and presupposes they will respect international law.
Published 17 July 2011
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For 50 days, six Saharawi citizens in Guelmim have been on hunger strike to denounce Morocco’s illegal exploitation of Saharawi natural resources. Their health condition is alarming.
Published 02 June 2011
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UK-Irish oil minors will start seismic surveys in occupied Western Sahara in June 2011.

Published 07 May 2011
Brian Cowen, acting Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs, expects Irish companies to have due regard to the principles of international law and the rights of the people of the territory of Western Sahara. Irish company San Leon is leading the way in the onshore exploration of oil and gas in occupied Western Sahara.
Published 28 January 2011
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This is how wide you smile when you contribute to the continued illegal occupation of a country.

Published 04 January 2011

The Irish oil company San Leon explores illegally for oil in occupied Western Sahara. On 19 December 2010, Western Sahara Action Ireland demonstrated against San Leon's work.

Published 21 December 2010
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The Irish/British companies illegally exploring for oil in occupied Western Sahara had planned seismic studies for Fourth Quarter this year. They have still not started, but the plans to carry out the programme remains.

Published 03 December 2010
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UN has said that looking for oil in Western Sahara is illegal. But the Irish firm San Leon Energy moves steadily forwards. Drilling underway next year.

Published 07 April 2010
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The two Irish oil companies that are looking for oil in occupied Western Sahara are about to merge. The firms are undermining international law.

Published 19 October 2009
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The Norwegian seismic services company PGS has entered in on the ownership side of the Irish oil company San Leon Energy. The funds placed by PGS will help enable increased oil exploration in occupied Western Sahara.

Published 22 September 2009
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The news that Irish oil firms Island Oil & Gas, Longreach and San Leon have obtained a full exploration licence for an area near occupied Smara, has triggered a response from the native inhabitants of the territory. And it\'s not a welcoming one.

Published 24 July 2009

Both San Leon and Island Oil & Gas have announced that the Zag Reconnaissance Licence has been upgraded to a full Exploration Licence. The Zag basin is located near Smara, occupied Western Sahara.

Published 23 July 2009

While under peace talks, Morocco is speeding up its plans for illegal oil search in occupied Western Sahara. The provocation has led Polisario to protest Morocco's actions to the UN Security Council. Read letter dated 6 July 2009 here.

Published 08 July 2009
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Irish oil firms will explore for oil in the Smara area in complete violation of international law.

Published 22 June 2009
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Published 22 June 2009
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Morocco plans to carry out exploration drilling onshore occupied Western Sahara.
Published 01 June 2009
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The Irish oil company Island Oil and Gas - and their partners in San Leon - today announced their intention to upgrade their licence in occupied Western Sahara from a frontier licence to an exploration licence.

Published 25 February 2009