Total has renewed its exploration licences in the disputed Western Sahara territory, despite opposition from independence activists, according to Reuters.
The licences allow Total to search for oil off the coast of the Western Sahara region, which currently forms part of Morocco. However, a strong independence movement in the region claims autonomy from the Moroccan government, saying that the issue of exploration licences by the Moroccan government is illegal.
Total’s activities and plans by U.S. explorer Kosmos Energy to sink a discovery well this year have brought one of Africa’s oldest territorial disputes back into focus.
Total said on Friday it had extended for a third year its reconnaissance licence for the 100,000-square-kilometre Anzarane block, which was first issued by Morocco in December 2011.
Total told Reuters in an emailed response to questions that it had renewed the licence “in order to complete the treatment and the interpretation of the seismic data acquired in 2013”.
Since obtaining the reconnaissance licence, Total has conducted geological, seabed and 3D seismic studies but has not announced any plans to drill an exploration well, which would require it to sign a separate contract with Morocco.
Morocco, Total and Kosmos have all pledged to abide by international standards and a U.N. legal opinion requiring them to consult local people on their activities.
Concerns over the conflict led Norwegian life insurance firm KLP to pull its $64.7 million investment in Total in June, according to its website.
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