Wessex in firing line over Western Sahara role

Upstream Online
28. May 2004


By Barry Morgan

Activists campaigning against what they dub premature exploration of
the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara are preparing to turn up
the heat on UK minnnow Wessex Exploration, writes Barry Morgan

Wessex is in the spotlight as it has won a reconnaissance licence to
investigate the territory's oil and gas potential and the company
recently landed rights to examine data relating to the Aaiun basin.

"It cannot be concluded that a working petroleum system has been
proven for Aaiun so Wessex is currently undertaking a comprehensive
technical analysis of the basin in order to facilitate further
hydrocarbon exploration in this very underexplored area," the
company said.

Wessex signed the deal with Rabat and the maps presented on its
website clearly support Morocco's claim to territorial sovereignty,
despite the United Nations legal office's insistence in 2002 that
profit from exploration and production can only be derived when
benefit accures to the territory's indigenous population.

Wessex has recently been deluged with email protests, mostly from
Spain, while the Norwegian, UK and Dutch campaign organisations
acting in support of Western Sahara's claim to independence have
this week been trying to set up a meeting with Wessex managing
director Frederik Dekker to press their case.

"If Wessex continues its activities in disregard of the rights of
the Saharawi people, the company will be seen as being complicit in
the illegal occupation of Western Sahara," said Laura Smith of the
Western Sahara Campaign UK.

"If Wessex is concerned for its reputation it would be wise to
either seek discussion with the Polisario Front or withdraw from its
contract with the Moroccans."

Also in the firing line is Dutch combine Fugro, which has agreed to
shoot additional seismic for Kerr-McGee over its Boujdour permit in
the southern reaches off Western Sahara.

In 2003, Norwegian seismic company TGS-Nopec was contracted to carry
out 2D seismic offshore but the weight of public pressure led to
shareholder divestment and government disapproval, forcing the
company to stop its involvement.

A communique from the Western Sahara Campaign urged Wessex to
negotiate an arrangement with the exiled Sahrawi political
organisation, the Polisario Front, or else be "seen as complicit in
the illegal occupation of the Western Sahara by Morocco".

(c) Upstream Online 2004



_________________________________________________________________

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

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