The 7th edition of East Africa International Arbitration Conference will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, this summer, on the 29th & 30th August, 2019, at the Radisson Blu Hotel.
The conference, which will be on the theme
: ‘Government Contracting and Investment Disputes: Lessons for States and Investors’, will explore the full spectrum of government contracting from procurement and PPPs (public-private partnerships), tender disputes, dispute mitigation in government contracts, investment arbitration and arbitrating with governments in African centres.
EAIAC provides an unrivalled platform for International Arbitration practitioners, arbitration users, state counsel, academia, and in-house corporate lawyers to learn, share best practice, network and deliberate on International Arbitration as an important tool for promoting FDI in Africa.
“EAIAC equally provides a forum to promote, profile and celebrate Africa’s International Arbitration & Arbitrators,” a statement copied to
energynewsafrica.com said.
Boosted by its long-term development blueprint, Vision 2030, and its mid-term development plan, the Big Four Agenda, Kenya is indeed the most fitting venue for the conference.
The country has experienced a surge in government contracting over the recent past and only last year, the Kenya government successfully defended two high profile investment arbitrations: an ICC arbitration relating to the power sector; and an ICSID arbitration in the mining sector.
Notably, across Kenya’s borders, various African countries have also published blueprints to be mid-level economies by the first half of this century.
The momentum for investment in Africa’s investment in renewable energy, infrastructure development, agriculture, healthcare and education continues despite global uncertainty.
These interests in African economies are further encouraged by the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) which entered into force on the 30th May, 2019 with 24 out of 55 African states having deposited their instruments of ratification.
“We see some governments making attempts to become transparent and efficient in contracting. All these developments set out a strong case for international arbitration and its development in the continent. It is for this reason that the East Africa International Arbitration platform exists, to promote the arbitration practice, support Africa centres build relationships and their profile, create a platform for shared experience, a place where arbitration practitioners and users can meet to network and acquire new skills,” it said.
The discussion topics would be delivered by leading Africa and international experts in discussion panels, Oxford-style debates and master classes, tackling some of the pertinent issues in Africa’s arbitration space.
The keynote address would be delivered by Hon. Justice David Maraga, Chief Justice, Republic of Kenya.
The speakers would attempt to respond to questions like; How can governments and investors better contract? Disputes are expensive, even for the winner-can they be mitigated? Can damages be better assessed and recovered? Do African International Arbitration Centres and Practitioners have a place in investment arbitration and many more.
Africa Arbitration Awards 2019
In addition to this year’s programme, the EAIAC would celebrate achievements and success in Africa Arbitration at the Inaugural Africa Arbitration Awards 2019.
Africa Arbitration Awards aims at celebrating, recognizing and honouring outstanding practitioners and leaders in the Africa arbitration ecosystem and would be celebrated at the Gala Dinner on Friday 30th August, 2019, at the Radisson Blu, Nairobi.
Awards Categories:
African Arbitrator of the Year
Young African Arbitrator of the Year
Leading Case Counsel Team
Innovation in Arbitration
Leading Case Service Provider
Nominations Process
Nominations are open to all International Arbitration practitioners in Africa. Self nomination is allowed.
Nominations would be subjected to a panel of judges for review.
Three shortlisted nominees would be announced for a round of voting by the Arbitration community.
The overall winners would be announced at the Awards Gala Dinner.
Nominations are open at
www.AfricaArbitrationAwards.org We invite you to celebrate an amazing person in arbitration, including your contacts, colleagues, or team by nominating them in either of the categories above
The National LPG promotion policy seeks to provide direction on marketing and distribution of LPG in a safe and efficient manner whiles ensuring increased access of the commodity, the Chief Executive Officer of NPA explained.
The new value chain, under the CRM, would begin with imports and production, bulk storage, bulk transportation, automated bottling, bottle transportation, retail and users as against the old status of main suppliers, refining and gas processing, storage, transport and retail outlets bulk customer.
The move would provide over 4,500 direct jobs to interested individuals and companies wishing to be part of the LPG value chain.
“In addition to the above jobs created, the NPA will recruit a little over 200 safety auditors throughout the country, as well as resource its newly established health, safety security and the environmental department to ensure that all safety measures were adhered to,” he added.
The participants called for the availability of the fibreglass cylinders as against the steel ones, modern tubes and regulators to accompany the new cylinders to be distributed by the NPA.
A resident present at the one-day event said, “This is a good policy. I have experienced this in Ivory Coast where any size of the cylinder is filled for as low as any amount.”
Residents also urged to have the CRM closer to communities to enhance accessibility.
Some suggested that the CRM should not be used as a political tool but rather be given legislative backing to ensure that no government threw away such a laudable concept.
Vice Chairman of the LPG Marketers Association, Mr Gabriel Kumi, stated the initiative, though laudable, could only be successful if the government removed most of the taxes on the product to enable the ordinary Ghanaian to afford it.
He said price hikes, as a result of taxes, had in the past and continues to contribute to the low patronage of the community among rural folks.
Mr Kumi added, “Data for the first quarter of 2019 reveals a more worrying user trend…people still prefer their charcoal to LPG due to high prices.”
He entreated the government to turn its attention to the teething challenge to achieve the 50% target by 2030.
Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister, said the introduction of the model could contribute to a significant reduction in petroleum-related fires and accidents that had caused some families many woes.
Soco and Cairn will further expand the presence of the international oil companies in the Israeli waters. Currently, the U.S. Noble Energy operates the Tamar gas field and is working to bring the giant Leviathan gas field online by the end of 2019.
In addition to Noble, the Greek company Energean is developing the Karish and Tanin fields which it bought from Noble Energy in 2016.
The Israeli energy ministry said that exploration licenses would be granted for a period of 3 years.
During this period, the licensees are expected to carry out the committed work program, which centers on examining the area.
After this, the licensees can request another two-year term extension, contingent upon an updated work program being submitted to include drilling a well in at least one of the licenses it respective clusters. The third licensing round is due to be held in 2021. 
