GHIBUU
JF-Expert Member
- Jan 13, 2011
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Naona Mabeberu yameingia kazini tena.
Kampuni ya Montero imeazimia kuishitaki serikali ya Tanzania ikikusudia kudai fidia kutokana na kupoteza mradi wake wa utafiti wa madini wa Wigu Hill uliotokana na mabadiliko ya sheria ya madini ya mwaka 2010 iliyofuta baadhi ya leseni zilizokuwa zikitolewa hapo awali kampuni hiyo ikiwa mhanga.
Fedha za kuendesha kesi hiyo zimetolewa na kampuni ya Omni Bridgway ya Canada.
Huu utakua ni muendelezo wa makampuni ya Canada kuishambulia serikali kwa madai mbali mbali.
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Montero secures US$2.32 million for battle with Government of Tanzania
Montero has advised that it has completed a Litigation Funding Agreement with Omni Bridgeway Canada, an affiliate of the Litigation Funder.
The Agreement provides for funds to be drawn from a financing facility to meet all fees and expenses relating to the pursuit of certain claims against the Government of Tanzania for the illegal expropriation and loss of the Project, including all costs associated with legal proceedings and, if necessary, enforcement, of any awards.
Montero has retained Thierry Lauriol and his team at Jeantet AARPI as highly experienced legal counsel in international arbitration with a track record of success for its clients in Africa.
Dr Tony Harwood, President of Montero, comments:
“Montero’s legal representatives, Jeantet, backed by the financial support of the Litigation Funder Omni Bridgeway, have been engaged to aggressively pursue compensation for the illegal activities of the Government of Tanzania in expropriating the Wigu Hill rare earth element Project.”
Montero is not able to make any comment in relation to the potential quantum of any claim for compensation at this point.
As background, on 17 January, 2020 Montero delivered a Notice of Intent to Submit a Claim to Arbitration to the Attorney General of Tanzania in accordance with the 2013 Agreement for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments in the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between Canada and the United Republic of Tanzania.
The dispute arises out of certain acts and omissions of the United Republic of Tanzania in breach of the BIT and international law, relating to Montero’s investment in the Wigu Hill rare earth element project located in Tanzania.
Montero commenced exploration activities on the Wigu Hill project in March 2008 when it was held under Prospecting License. Montero subsequently, on advice from the Mining Commissioner, applied for a Retention License in 2014 and this was granted in 2015 valid for a period of five years.
In 2017 the Government of Tanzania announced amendments to the Mining Act 2010, which, inter alia, abolished the legislative basis for the Retention License classification with no replacement classification.
On 10 January 2018 the Government published the Mining Regulations 2018 which under Regulation 21 cancelled all Retention Licenses issued prior to that date, which would cease to have any legal effect.
The rights to all areas under Retention Licenses were immediately transferred to the Government of Tanzania.
On December 19th, 2019 the Mining Commission of Tanzania announced a public invitation to tender for the joint development of areas previously covered by Retention Licenses, including the area of the Wigu Hill Retention License.
The abolition of the Wigu Hill Retention License and the removal of the various rights to the minerals conferred by this licence has rendered the Wigu Hill project valueless to Montero.
Therefore, as a direct consequence of the legislative, regulatory and other measures made by the Tanzanian Government, Montero has lost completely its investment.
The Notice of Intent is necessary in order to preserve Montero’s rights to initiate arbitration should a resolution with the Tanzanian Government not be reached.
The filing of the Notice of Intent initiates a six-month consultation period between the parties during which time no attempt was made by the Tanzanian Government to amicably settle the dispute.
Montero has initiated international arbitration proceedings in accordance with the BIT between Canada and the United Republic of Tanzania. Compensation being sought for expropriation of the Wigu Hill rare earth element Project may include, but will not be limited to, the value of the historic investment made by Montero in Tanzania, the value of the project at the time that tenure was expropriated and damages the Company has suffered as a result of Tanzania’s acts and omissions.
Source: Montero secures US$2.32 million for battle with Government of Tanzania
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