We are advising an infrastructure developer on a dispute that has arisen in relation to a multi-billion US dollar hydrocarbon project in Africa. Our client's claim is for hundreds of millions of US dollars. This project holds significant regional importance and is closely connected to other ongoing upstream and mid-stream initiatives involving the government, the national oil company, and major global energy firms.
For our client, securing the project was a culmination of decades' worth of experience and relationship-building working in government agencies, in international investment and development, and working on the African continent. The work involved in securing the capital, the commercial and technical expertise required to get a refinery project of this complexity and scale off the ground cannot be underestimated. Our client acted as the representative of the consortium of the foreign companies involved in the project. The first part of the project required various contractual milestones to be met before a final investment decision could be reached, and before construction could begin. A series of issues emerged, causing significant obstacles to various milestones being achieved in time or at all. Despite all its investment and efforts, our client has now been deprived of its interest and participation in the project.
In view of the nature of the project, the parties involved, the issues in dispute and the high financial stakes, we are advising our client through a comprehensive approach that integrates commercial, legal, political, strategic, and technical expertise.