SCCA concludes “Dispute Resolution in the International Energy Business” conference in partnership with AIEN
Published Date: 15/11/2022
During Dubai Arbitration Week 2022
A major event at this week’s annual Dubai Arbitration Week (DAW) 2022 was the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) international conference on “Dispute Resolution in the International Energy Business” held as a joint event with the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN).
Diamond sponsor Saudi Aramco and platinum sponsor Dragon Oil made this AIEN-SCCA event possible; with presenters and attendees from many of the world’s most prestigious international and regional law firms, in-house counsels from major energy sector corporations, and the heads of international organizations specializing in arbitration, mediation, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
The full-day program had international energy experts speaking about the key issues related to dispute resolution in the international energy sector at every stage of the oil production process. The four sessions focused on: State Investment Disputes, Upstream Commercial Disputes, Midstream & Downstream Disputes, and Energy Infrastructure Disputes.
The first session of international energy arbitration experts conducted a historical review of energy cases in the Middle East and the latest investment disputes, including arbitration cases arising from granting instruments, especially production sharing contracts.
The second session addressed disputes around oil exploration and extraction with speakers analyzing a variety of such disputes - in particular joint operating agreements, unit agreements, confidentiality agreements, service contracts, and property acquisitions.
Experts in the third session discussed disputes over transporting and refining oil, including pipelines, transportation agreements, rights of way, gathering and processing facilities, refineries, and petrochemical plants, including such contracts in several jurisdictions.
The final session provided an in-depth analysis of construction and infrastructure disputes emanating from international energy projects.
In his welcoming address, SCCA Chairman Dr. Walid Bin Sulaiman Abanumay noted the energy sector’s increased growth and rising importance in the world economy - with the critical role of renewed investment and development in the sector - thus requiring ever-more efficient and effective dispute resolution mechanisms aligned with international best practices as important enablers of success.
Dr. Abanumay added: “This conference is important because energy projects are complex, long-running, and capital-intensive. It is because of these considerations that mediation and arbitration are leading options for resolving disputes in this sector. Hence the importance of the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration, as it is one of the most prominent emerging arbitration centers in the region. It has achieved many successes, including an increase in the number of sectors from which cases have been filed with SCCA, in particular the energy sector.”
Conference co-chair Tim Martin, the managing director of Northumberland Chambers, said: “The SCCA successfully hosted a world class event today that highlighted the most significant disputes in the international energy sector. It featured the leading counsel, law firms and arbitrators in the energy world. It was a privilege for me and the Association of International Energy Negotiators to be a part of this landmark conference in Dubai.”
The “Dispute Resolution in the International Energy Business” conference was held in partnership with AIEN, highlighting the SCCA’s strategic partnerships with relevant international professional organizations. AIEN is one of the most important international professional organizations supporting the global growth of the energy sector and helping international energy negotiators to be fully prepared for the challenges of today’s global energy market.
SCCA participated in the event to highlight the role of the arbitration industry in managing and resolving international energy disputes, and to exchange experiences and knowledge with various parties involved in institutional arbitration. SCCA is one of the region’s most important international arbitration centers and dispute resolution options, as well as the national beacon for the industry in Saudi Arabia.
Dubai Arbitration Week is a prominent event held every year in the UAE to review the latest developments in the regional and international arbitration industry, relevant laws, and the extent to which they contribute to developing the business environment.