Economy of Western Sahara

The majority of the territory of Western Sahara is currently administered by the Kingdom of Morocco. As such, the economical activity of Western Sahara happens in the framework of the economy of Morocco. However, there are no Patent Laws in Western Sahara. [http://www.billanderson.com.au/Gazetteer-Patents.htm]

In the Moroccan-administered territory, fishing and phosphate mining are the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan government. Morocco has signed a fishing treaty with the EU including Western Sahara as part of Morocco. Moroccan Energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara.

The area east of the Moroccan defensive wall is mainly uninhabited. There is practically no economical infrastructure and the only activity is camel herding kept by beduins and also many Tuaregs who depend on pastoral nomadism. The government-in-exile of the Polisario front has signed oil contracts of its own [http://www.sadroilandgas.com/] , but there is no practical exploration.

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

Key agricultural products include fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads.)

Energy consumption

*Electricity - production: 85 GWh (2003)
*Electricity - production by source:
**fossil fuel: 100%
**hydro: 0%
**nuclear: 0%
**other: 0%
*Electricity - consumption: 83.7 GWh (2003)
*Electricity - exports: 0 kWh
*Electricity - imports: 0 kWh
*Oil - production: 0 barrel/day
*Oil - consumption: 1,750 barrel/day (278 m³/d) (2003)

External links

*dmoz|Regional/Africa/Western_Sahara/Business_and_Economy/Economic_Development
* [http://www.sadroilandgas.com/ SADR Oil and Gas exploration, licence offering]