London, Sept 23, 2012 (SPS) - Western Sahara Resource Watch has denounced, in recent report provides details of over the period from 1 June until 31 August 2012, the extraction and export operations of phosphate from the Bou Craa mines at occupied El Aaiun, capital of Western Sahara.
The ONG said that during the observation period the 20 vessels carried away (or were due by early September to carry away) a total of 814,000 tonnes of Saharawi phosphate, adding that such quantities exceed those recorded during the previous months.
Total phosphate exports in 2012 from occupied Western Sahara will probably be in the range of 2.5 to 2.8 million tones, pointed out WSRW.
It added that the predicted market value of phosphate exports from occupied Western Sahara for 2012 will be at least $400 million.
“The export trade in phosphate continues to enrich Morocco as the occupying power in Western Sahara,” confirmed the ONG.
Despite its value, said the ONG, the export of phosphate rock remains unremarked by the United Nations and international community, voicing concern about the depletion or long term exhaustion of phosphate rock reserves at Bou Craa mines. (SPS)
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