MANAMA : The International Oil and Gas Dispute Resolution Conference 2013 yesterday announced the Patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, for the high profile, three-day conference taking place in Bahrain from November 17 till 19.
The conference, being jointly organised by the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution -American Arbitration Association (BCDR-AAA), and the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) will be an important global gathering for the oil and gas industry and the first of its kind to take place in the Middle East and North African (MENA) regions, the world’s leading hydrocarbon. While the conference will focus on emerging issues in oil and gas disputes globally, it will also place particular emphasis on those issues specific to the MENA region in addition to The Sudan, South Sudan and Nigeria.
The announcement of event’s patron was made by the organizers at a press conference held at the BCDR premises in the presence of Ahmed Hussain, BCDR-AAA’s chief registrar and assistant CEO for arbitration, who is also the co-chairman of the conference, Tim Martin, conference co-chairman and the former President of AIPN, and the media.
“Energy revenues remain the major economic contributor to GDP and development. Importantly, it also demonstrates the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment, at the highest of levels, for continuing to develop its capabilities and position as a leading regional centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), building on its strategic location in the heart of the Gulf region as well as its strong and well regarded commercial, legal and regulatory framework.”
Tim Martin also said: “The need for effective dispute resolution is becoming increasingly important given the continued expansion of the oil and gas sector including petrochemical and downstream industries in the counties of the Middle East and Africa.”
“Growth, however, has seen an increase in concession agreements and commercial contracts in use and, in turn, a rise in the number of disputes, which can be solved in more efficient, timely and cost-effective ways through the use of alternative dispute resolution methods. This year’s conference will focus on new and existing solutions for the oil and gas industry and their application both on a global and regional basis.”
The event is expected to attract in excess of 450 delegates and more than 30 of the world’s leading industry experts, arbitrators and counsel from international energy organizations, governments and law firms to discuss a broad spectrum of legal and commercial issues relating to disputes in the sector. Topics will include boundary disputes, state investment, infrastructure and commercial disputes, along with the impact of Shariah law in Middle East energy disputes. The Peninsula
