News about Total
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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
The French company Total paid the Moroccan government near 4 million US dollars for the Anzarane exploration licence offshore Western Sahara, under illegal occupation.
Published 08 October 2019
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"The contract was not extended in December 2015", company writes on website. It has also confirmed that it has "no plans" to return to the territory, which lies in the part of Western Sahara under Moroccan occupation.

Published 21 June 2016
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The Norwegian insurance company Storebrand has blacklisted both phosphate and oil companies involved in occupied Western Sahara. Among them are the French company Total, which are now back in from the cold after they withdrew from the territory.
Published 25 March 2016
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The French multinational oil company has announced that it is no longer pursuing oil search offshore Western Sahara. "More good news for the Saharawi people. We urge the remaining oil companies to follow suit", stated WSRW.

Published 21 December 2015
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In celebration of International Women's Day, yesterday 8 March 2014, the women of the Saharawi refugee camps held a protest against foreign companies that are complicit in Morocco's plunder of their occupied homeland: Western Sahara.

Published 09 March 2015
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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
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The French oil multinational confirms having renewed for 12 months its licence offshore "the Sahara region". The company keeps following the terminology of the occupying power of Morocco - their partner.

Published 03 February 2014
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French oil multinational Total, with the biggest licence offshore occupied Western Sahara, says it will only disclose in mid-January whether it has renewed or not its licence in the territory.
Published 20 December 2013
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On Sunday 17 November, dozens of Saharawis took to the streets of El Aaiun to protest against the involvement of Total, Siemens and the EU in the illegal exploitation of their occupied country's natural resources.

Published 18 November 2013

In its statement to the United Nations’ Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee), Western Sahara Resource Watch drew attention to companies trading in phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara and Groupe Total's unethical seabed oil exploration in the adjacent waters.

Published 11 October 2013
Former UN Legal Counsel Hans Corell states to Swedish media that the legal opinion made for the Security Council in 2002 has been misused by both the EU and investors in the oil sector.
Published 06 October 2013

In July, Total finished one year of seismic exploration offshore Western Sahara. A new video shows the vessels at Las Palmas harbour, just after their assigment had ended. 

Published 20 September 2013
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Western Sahara Resource Watch today launched a report on the French oil company Total’s irresponsible comeback in occupied Western Sahara. The company carries out exploration in the territory despite the UN legal office stating it would be in violation of international law.
Published 02 September 2013
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Two vessels that have been contracted by French oil company Total to search occupied Western Sahara's seabed for oil, are currently at anchor in the harbour of Las Palmas. See videos and photos here.

Published 22 July 2013
The Norwegian pension scheme KLP is excluding the French oil company Total from its investments. KLP considers Total’s activities in Western Sahara unethical.
Published 04 June 2013
Still no reply on future options nor stakeholder consultation. Total respond that would be politics.
Published 29 May 2013
In a letter 30 March 2013, Frente Polisario called on the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to intervene to stop the Moroccan-French oil exploration offshore occupied Western Sahara.
Published 16 April 2013
....and other questions relating to the Western Sahara operations. Total has just emailed WSRW.
Published 11 April 2013
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Western Sahara Resource Watch today again asked Total, for the third time, for explanations of their operations in the waters of occupied Western Sahara.
Published 15 March 2013

Chinese company BGP affirms to WSRW undertaking seabed research on behalf of French oil firm Total. This article has been updated: Seismic study to end 30 March 2013.

Published 05 March 2013
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Western Sahara Resource Watch has received this photo of the Geo Service I, the offshore supply ship accompanying the vessel BGP Prospector that is carrying out seismic seabed research for French oil giant Total.

Published 19 February 2013
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While French oil company Total is exploring for oil off occupied Western Sahara, 26 Saharawi civil society organisations ask the company to cease its activities. “We, the signatories of this statement are against the presence of Total in Western Sahara. We urge the company stop all research and leave immediately”, they write in a statement issued yesterday.
Published 08 February 2013

After a short Christmas break, the controversial French-Chinese oil exploration offshore occupied Western Sahara has resumed.

Published 02 January 2013
The French oil company Total has asked for a one year renewal of their controversial licence in occupied Western Sahara. WSRW calls on investors to divest from the company.
Published 14 December 2012
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Seven days after Total’s licence expired, no updates have been released in Moroccan media or by Total, whether the company will continue its highly dubious operations. A number of French organisations has expressed their concern over Total’s engagement in the occupied territory of Western Sahara.
Published 13 December 2012
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Norwegian national newspaper Aftenposten today wrote that Norway's government - owning two percent of Total - could possibly blacklist the company from its pension fund due to its operations in Western Sahara. Norway owns 2,5 billion USD of shares in the company.
Published 08 December 2012
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Total's reconnaissance contract offshore Western Sahara expired 6 December 2012.
Published 07 December 2012
Western Sahara Resource Watch today asked Total to not renew its licence in occupied Western Sahara. See letter.
Published 07 December 2012
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A subsidiary of China's national oil company seems these days to do seismographic studies on Total's block in occupied Western Sahara. WSRW today protested against the operations.

Published 06 December 2012
The government of the Western Sahara Republic today sent a letter to the CEO of the Total SA, asking the company to stay away from Western Sahara. Total's licence in Western Sahara could be ending today - will they renew?
Published 06 December 2012
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This summer, a UK seismic survey vessel carried out studies offshore Western Sahara, accompanied by the protest of the government of the Western Sahara republic. The recent findings of Total’s new block suggest it was in fact the French company that had commissioned the studies.
Published 05 December 2012
From what WSRW understands, Total’s new licence in Western Sahara was signed exactly one year ago. This opens for a renewal already this week, first week of December 2012. WSRW urges Total’s investors to engage immediately.
Published 03 December 2012
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It caused a stir in the Security Council when French oil giant Total signed an oil agreement in occupied Western Sahara in 2001. Three years later they pulled out. But now they are back.
Published 29 November 2012
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The Moroccan state owned oil company ONHYM has established new oil blocks in Western Sahara. The illegal programme could double the acreage in the occupied territory.

Published 17 July 2011

Find here details on the articles published as part of the Ifremer-Total studies in Dakhla, Western Sahara.

Published 02 June 2009
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Western Sahara Resource Watch demanded in a letter on 19 March 2009 to the scientific journal Tectonophysics, that research done by a PhD student at the Norwegian Geological Survey should not be published. The geological research in occupied Western Sahara is done in cooperation with Moroccan oil authorities, but without the consent of the Sahrawi people.

Published 21 May 2009
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A research fellow attached to the Norwegian Geological Survey has been working on an oil research project in the occupied Western Sahara. Western Sahara Resource Watch requests that a scientific geological journal temporarily suspend further publication of her research data. The research institute is itself sceptical of the research project.

Published 21 May 2009

Download Afroil, 20 January 2009, covering the oil industry in Western Sahara.

Published 09 February 2009

The French oil giant Total (formerly TotalFinaElf) has announced its withdrawal from its controversial operations offshore Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara. The company claims there were no recoverable oil or gas deposits in the area.

Published 29 November 2004