The Moroccan authorities granted a permit to explore for oil in the Tarfaya coast to a Qatari company near the Canary waters, which raises concerns among the islands' authorities, according to a Spanish newspaper.
And the newspaper "El Espanol" reported that Qatar Petroleum acquired in 2019 30% of the 75% share of the Italian company Eni in its branch in Morocco, Eni Maroc, while the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Minerals in Morocco retains a 25% share in cent.
Qatar Petroleum entered into a partnership with Eni to explore the Atlantic coast of Tarfaya, located between the city of Agadir and the Western Desert.
The exploration permit extends over an area of more than 23,900 square kilometres, and includes geological and geophysical studies.
The newspaper points out that Tarfaya faces the island of Fuerteventura in the Canary, which raises fears among the islands' authorities of exploration.
And "El Espanyol" quoted sources in the islands that if oil or gas is found, the danger to the extended area of the islands will be environmental in the event of an accident.
The newspaper pointed out that Rabat also granted licenses to an Israeli company to explore for oil and gas in the waters of the Western Desert in Dakhla, which are disputed waters between Morocco and the Canary Islands.
There is a dispute between Morocco and the islands over the demarcation of the maritime border.
And last week, the Spanish politician on the islands, Fernando Clavijo, called on the Madrid government to defend the islands' waters in the face of Morocco, which is seeking to explore for oil and gas, according to the Spanish newspaper, "La Propensia".
Nationalists on the islands are suspicious of the permits granted by Rabat to companies to explore and see that they include the territorial waters of the Canary.
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