On 16 March 2006 the Company, in partnership with Premier Oil plc (Premier) of the UK, signed four Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) offshore the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) commonly referred to as Western Sahara.  Ophir has a 50% interest in each PSC and is the project Operator.

The sovereignty of the territory of SADR is subject to a long standing dispute between the indigenous Saharawi people, as represented by the Government of the SADR, and the Kingdom of Morocco.  The Security Council of the United Nations has been mediating between both sides in an attempt to find a just and diplomatic solution to the decolonisation of Western Sahara.

However Ophir's title to these PSCs remains subject to the approval of a UN Resolution granting the SADR international recognition as an independent and sovereign state.  When international recognition has been achieved, the PSCs will be ratified by the SADR Government.

This is one of the least explored sedimentary basins in the whole of West Africa.  Preliminary studies suggest that all the necessary elements of an effective petroleum system could be in place but further seismic and geological studies are required.

A visit to the camps was made by the JVPs in April 2006 for the official signing ceremony.  Below are some images from that trip. Click a thumbnail below to view a larger size.

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