thumb|350px|[[Bou Craa phosphate mine 100 kilometers (about 60 miles) from the coastal city of El Aaiún, Western Sahara. Two Landsat images show growth of the mine between 1987 and 2000.]]

The majority of the territory of Western Sahara is currently occupied by the Kingdom of Morocco. As such, the majority of the economic activity of Western Sahara happens in the framework of the economy of Morocco.

In the Moroccan-occupied territory, fishing and phosphate mining are the principal sources of income for the population. hence, most of the food for the urban population must be imported. Trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan government. but there is no practical work, because the zones given are in the Moroccan-occupied part of the territory.

Key agricultural products from Western Sahara include fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases), as well as camels, sheep and goats.

Fishing and oil exploration contracts concerning Western Sahara are sources of political tension.

Energy consumption

  • Electricity – production: 90 million kWh (all estimates are for 2014)
  • Electricity – consumption: 83.7 million kWh In 2015, a European court invalidated a trade deal between the European Union (EU) and Morocco that involved Western Sahara, prompting a diplomatic backlash from Morocco. In 2018, the European Court of Justice ruled that a fishing treaty between the EU and the Moroccan government did not include fishing grounds off the coast of Western Sahara. In April 2010, the Norwegian state-owned salmon company EWOS stopped the purchases of fish oil from Western Sahara and Morocco (with an amount of around 10 million euros annually, and estimated between 12,000 and 20,000 tons of fish oil in total), for "not being in line with the Norwegian authorities' recommendations".

In 2002, the petroleum companies TotalEnergies and Kerr-McGee were awarded contracts to explore for oil in the region. In May 2006, Kerr-McGee decided to not renew the contract signed with the Moroccan Authorities. The US-based firm Kosmos Energy began a contract to explore offshore from Western Sahara in 2013, prompting criticism from activist groups such as Western Sahara Resource Watch.

See also

  • Economy of Morocco
  • Legal status of Western Sahara
  • Western Saharan cuisine

References

  • SADR Oil and Gas exploration, licence offering