Before the end of the year, the first drilling in occupied Western Sahara will take place. 

The drilling will start in violation of international law, as described by the UN Legal Counsel. 

“No state recognizes these waters as Moroccan, and such drilling is found illegal by the UN. This platform symbolizes the worst kind of drilling operation possible to imagine, it is simply a robbery of a people's wealth. It will directly contribute to undermine the UN peace talks”, stated Erik Hagen, chair of Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW). 

The platform will drill between Western Sahara and the Canary Islands, in the waters of Western Sahara at over 2 kilometers water depth. No environmental study has yet been published, and oceanographers at Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria have warned that an oil spill would be taken directly onto the beaches of the Canaries. 

“This drilling takes place outside of Moroccan national waters. So who will cover the bill if there is an oil spill onto the Canary beaches? The lack of legal framework and the ultra deep location of the drilling, means that there is a high risk involved for the Canaries. It is peculiar to see that Canary government allows its port in Las Palmas to be used to facilitate such kamikaze project”, stated Hagen. 

The people of Western Sahara have carried out numerous protests over Moroccan government plans to do its first drilling in Western Sahara ever. Kosmos has not sought the consent of the people of the territory.

Read more about the dangerous and controversial operation in our report "A Platform for Conflict".