1: Players take the cautious approach off hotly disputed desert
territories
2: Total has rain check in Western Sahara


Players take the cautious approach off hotly disputed desert
territories

Upstream Online
4 Jul. 2003

By: Nassir Shirkhani

The search for oil off disputed Western Sahara has caused an outcry
among lobby groups whose campaigning is discouraging foreign
companies from undertaking work there, writes Nassir Shirkhani.
Norwegian seismic company Multiwave says it will not undertake
surveys in disputed territories such as Western Sahara.

"We are very careful with this and wish to maintain high ethical
standards," says Multiwave director Jan Soevik.

Companies such as France's Total have carried out preliminary
seismic work in the area under a "reconnaissance licence" from
Morocco's state oil company Onarep.

However, any development work is unlikely to take off since this
will be in breach of international laws.

Total is currently examining seismic data, although it has put on
hold further activities in the area.

"It must be recognised ... the contracts for oil reconnaissance and
evaluation do not entail exploitation or the physical removal of the
mineral resources, and no benefits have as of yet accrued," says
Hans Corell, United Nations under-secretary for legal affairs.

"The conclusion is that while the specific contracts, which are the
subject of the UN Security Council's request, are not in themselves
illegal, if further exploration and exploitation activities were to
proceed in disregard of the interests of the people of Western
Sahara, they would be in violation of the international law
principles," Corell adds.

Total recently decided to put on hold the marine reconnaissance work
it kicked off last year in Western Sahara amid growing controversy
over whether Morocco has the right to manage exploration and
production activity offshore.

Total says it would not participate in "any extra second phase" of
exploration seismic over the Dakhla deep-water permit awarded in
late 2001.

The Polisario militia of the Sahrawi Republic -- recognised by most
African countries -- has fought a protracted campaign against
Morocco, which it deems an occupying power in the former Spanish
colony.

(c) Upstream Online 2003

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Total has rain check in Western Sahara

Upstream Online
13 Jun. 2003

By Barry Morgan

French supermajor Total has elected to take a rain check on the
marine reconnaissance work it kicked off last year in Western Sahara
amid the growing brouhaha over whether Morocco has the right to
manage exploration and production activity offshore, writes Barry
Morgan. Total said it would not participate in "any extra second
phase" of exploration seismic over the deep-water permit awarded by
Rabat in late 2001. The Boujdour and Dakhla permits were issued by
Moroccan state oil company Onarep to Kerr McGee and Total
respectively, and both used TGS-Nopec in the first phase.

While Kerr McGee is mulling over whether to proceed with the seismic
programme, Total said: "We are examining the results of the first
survey and also studying the whole situation in the area."

The Polisario militia of the Sahrawi Republic -- recognised by most
African countries -- has fought a protracted campaign against
Morocco, which it deems an occupying power in the former Spanish
colony.

The Polisario has rejected a UN plan to postpone a plebiscite on
self-rule while imposing on Sahrawis the status of an autonomous
province within Morocco.

The latest oil-sector outfit to steer clear of the territory was
Norwegian seismic company Multiwave, which last week said it would
not participate in upcoming surveys until the diplomatic impasse was
resolved.

(c) Upstream Online 2003

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Forwarded by:
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Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara
wsahara2@...

*** Referendum now! ***
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update
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