Mining

The conflict between traditional miners in Marmato and Canadian transnational mining companies: Another ISDS dispute over natural resources in Colombia

This article provides historical context for the shift in the transnational legal order that governs mining in Colombia and has provoked an increasing number of socio-political conflicts, leading to ISDS claims.

Eco Oro and the twilight of policy exceptionalism

The recently rendered decision in Eco Oro v. Colombia highlights many of the problems with policy exceptionalism. Most importantly, it suggests that states cannot, by larding their investment treaties with exceptions and carve-outs, simply avoid reckoning with the fundamental challenges facing the investment treaty system.

Stabilization Clauses and Implications for Human Rights and Gender Equality

Stabilization clauses in investment contracts may make it more difficult to pass laws aimed at improving gender equality. This article discusses the potential relationship between investment contracts and gender, as well as guidance from international organizations that seeks to help states avoid contracts which constrain their ability to regulate in the public interest.

Rethinking investment law from the ground up: extractivism, human rights, and investment treaties

The ways in which the investment protection regime frames disputes between states and investors misses that these disputes, particularly when they relate to the extractive industry, are embedded in complex social relations. This article calls for a reimagining of these disputes and efforts to resolve them.

Does the investment treaty regime promote good governance? The case of mining in Santurbán, Colombia

Investment treaties and arbitration are argued, by proponents of the regime, to contribute to “good governance” in host states. This article, based on an empirical study of mining investments in the Colombian páramo, argues that the conception of good governance promoted by investment arbitration is incomplete and does not adequately consider the role of courts in providing checks and balances.

Awards  |  December 17, 2019

Tribunal finds Pakistan breached FET, expropriation and non-impairment obligations in the context of a mining joint venture with Australian investor Tethyan Copper Company

Tethyan Copper Company Pty Limited v. Islamic Republic of Pakistan, ICSID Case No. ARB/12/1

Awards  |  December 21, 2018

Kenya prevails in BIT arbitration: British investors’ claims dismissed due to the absence of environmental impact assessment

Cortec Mining Kenya Limited, Cortec (Pty) Limited and Stirling Capital Limited v. Republic of Kenya, ICSID Case No. ARB/15/29

Designing Local Content Policies in Mineral-Rich Countries

This report provides clarity on key characteristics and challenges of local content policies. It does not attempt to propose one definition of local content.

ITN  |  October 18, 2018

Bear Creek v. Peru

Bear Creek Mining Corporation v. Republic of Peru, ICSID Case No. ARB/14/2 (Published in 2018 in International Investment Law and Sustainable Development: Key cases from the 2010s and on this website on […]

ITN  |  October 18, 2018

Churchill Mining v. Indonesia

Churchill Mining PLC and Planet Mining Pty Ltd v. Republic of Indonesia, ICSID Case No. ARB/12/14 and ICSID Case No. ARB/12/40 (Published in 2018 in International Investment Law and Sustainable […]

ITN  |  October 18, 2018

Pac Rim v. El Salvador

Pac Rim Cayman LLC v. Republic of El Salvador, ICSID Case No. ARB/09/12 (Published in 2018 in International Investment Law and Sustainable Development: Key cases from the 2010s and on this […]

ITN  |  October 18, 2018

Crystallex v. Venezuela

Crystallex International Corporation v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, ICSID Case No. ARB(AF)/11/2 (Published in 2018 in International Investment Law and Sustainable Development: Key cases from the 2010s and on this website […]

IGF Guidance for Governments: Local content policies

The guidance focuses on mining sector local content policies—a suite of policies aimed at leveraging mining investment to, for example, increase local employment, boost mining companies’ local purchases and foster entrepreneurs in non-mining sectors.

Government Regulatory Space in the Shadow of BITs: The Case of Tanzania’s Natural Resource Regulatory Reform

Tanzania passed three new laws in July 2017 that significantly change the regulatory landscape governing natural resources. The reforms are aimed at ensuring that foreign investment benefits Tanzanian citizens.From an African perspective, this article argues that it is time to rethink investment treaty regimes to ensure that they do not hinder much-needed reforms.

ITN  |  March 13, 2017

Awards and Decisions

ICSID tribunal dismisses claims brought against Indonesia based on forged mining licences Churchill Mining PLC and Planet Mining Pty Ltd v. Republic of Indonesia, ICSID Case No. ARB/12/14 and ICSID […]

ICSID tribunal dismisses claims brought against Indonesia based on forged mining licences

Churchill Mining PLC and Planet Mining Pty Ltd v. Republic of Indonesia, ICSID Case No. ARB/12/14 and ICSID Case No. ARB/12/40  After rendering separate decisions on jurisdiction—one for the case brought […]

Renco failed to comply with formal waiver requirement under U.S.–Peru Trade Promotion Agreement

Renco Group Inc. v Republic of Peru, UNCT/13/1 An arbitral tribunal under the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) declared that U.S.-based investor Renco […]

Pac Rim v. El Salvador: all claims dismissed; OceanaGold to pay US$8 million in costs

Pac Rim Cayman LLC v. Republic of El Salvador, ICSID Case No. ARB/09/12 On October 14, 2016, a tribunal at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) dismissed […]

ITN  |  December 12, 2016

Awards and Decisions

Venezuela to Pay Us$1 Billion For Expropriating Canadian Mining Company’s Investment

ICSID Tribunal dismisses MFN Clause in WTO GATS as a means of importing Senegal’s consent to arbitration from third party BIT

PCA tribunal deemed acts of Polish Agricultural Property Agency not attributable to Poland

Claimant not considered Investor due to interpretation of “Seat” under Cyprus–Montenegro BIT

Ecuador’s Levy on extraordinary oil profits at a 99% rate has breached Murphy’s legitimate expectations, decides PCA tribunal

Ecuador ordered by PCA tribunal to pay $24 million to Canadian Mining Company

ITN  |  May 16, 2016

News in Brief

US$50 billion awards against Russia in Yukos Cases are set aside by Dutch Court

TTIP draft to be prepared by July; ISDS being built based on both EU and US proposals

China – US BIT: ISDS to be included; ongoing negotiations on negative lists

Three mining disputes: The first investment disputes against Colombia come to light

Canada-European Union CETA re-concluded in February to incorporate the EU ICS proposal

Second ICSID claim filed against Uruguay; Philip Morris decision still pending

Singapore International Arbitration centre releases investment arbitration rules

News  |  May 16, 2016

Three mining disputes: the first investment disputes against Colombia come to light

On February 19, 2016, Cosigo Resources (Canada) and Tobie Mining and Energy (United States) submitted an arbitration request against Colombia under the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) concluded by Colombia with the United States and Canada.