Total paid near 4 million to occupier for oil block
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


A document titled "Registration document" - edition 2015, reveals the amount Total had paid for its controversial Anzarane block in occupied Western Sahara: 3,859,000 US dollars. The document was published in 2016.

Total left the block in December 2015 after four years of exploratory seismic studies.

The same kind of document for 2014 elaborates further somewhat on how it reflects around the legal and ethical aspects of operating in Western Sahara.

While claiming to be abiding by the UN, Total manages to both in the 2014 and 2015 files to claim that the Anzarane block is located "In Morocco". No states in the world recognises Western Sahara as part of Morocco.

Morocco's claim to the territory have been rejected by the International Court of Justice, the EU Court of Justice and the United Nations.

The company had since 2001 signed in Western Sahara, and always referred to it as "Morocco". No seeking of consent has been ever done with the people of the territory.

Total officially states it has left Western Sahara

"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.

21 June 2016

Norwegian investor excluded Total due to Western Sahara involvement

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.
25 March 2016

Total has left occupied Western Sahara

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.

21 December 2015

Total confirms 1 year renewal of dirty deal in occupied Sahara

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.

03 February 2014