13 April 2012
Arbitration partnership signed by CEPMLP
The University of Dundee's Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) is to play a key role in arbitrating disputes over energy resources in Scotland.
The CEPMLP have signed an agreement with the Scottish Arbitration Centre (SAC), a non-profit company dedication to the promotion of arbitration to the Scottish business community as an effective alternative to litigation, to bring their expertise in international energy law to bear on future disputes.
The new partnership was launched during the SAC's Tartan Week event in New York, where CEPMLP was represented by Holywood star Brian Cox, Rector of Dundee University.
The SAC, which comprises a consortium of the Law Society of Scotland, Faculty of Advocates, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, and MSPs, also promotes Scotland to the world as a place to conduct international arbitration.
The huge investment in the North Sea related to oil, gas and wind energy mean disputes between partner companies and organisations are likely, and CEPMLP's knowledge of the particular challenges of the energy sector means it is ideally placed to provide a means for speedy, low-cost settlements.
As many North Sea investors are from overseas, the launch of the partnership was held at Tartan Week to reflect the international focus of the agreement.
Professor Peter Cameron, Director of CEPMLP, expressed his delight at the new arrangement, saying, "The revival of interest in the UK North Sea, and the growing complexity of international oil and gas operations, will give rise to different kinds of dispute.
"This partnership between the Dundee Energy Centre and the Scottish Arbitration Centre will ensure that specialist knowledge can be brought to bear on these issues and facilitate their speedy resolution.
"Looking forward to a low carbon economy, and new kinds of energy, like wind and wave power, there will be further opportunities for us to use our mutual skills to assist in settling differences of view as they emerge in the UK and in the rest of the world. Following a good Scottish tradition, our vision is a global one."
The establishment of the SAC built on the Arbitration (Scotland) Act 2010, which gave Scotland one of the world's most modern, cost-effective and supportive frameworks for arbitration.
Brandon Malone, Chairman of the Centre, said, "We are delighted to be working with the internationally renowned CEPMLP at the University of Dundee on this project to develop Scotland as an international centre for energy arbitration.
"We are keen to focus on the energy sector, given the oil and gas links in Aberdeen and Scotland's expertise in the developing renewables industry. Scotland's location midway between America and Middle East is considered to be a significant benefit in establishing it as a specialist in energy arbitration."
Brain Cox, who spoke at the event on behalf of CEPMLP, said, "The new relationship with the Scottish Arbitration Centre will promote the reputation of Dundee University in this field of international dispute settlement, and it will draw upon its existing strengths in the fields of energy and natural resources law, economics and management."
Notes to editors:
The Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP)
CEPMLP is a post-graduate teaching institution that attracts students from all over the world. Currently, it has nearly 600 students enrolled in its programmes. Students are from Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, India and China. It is probably unique in the world in being inter-disciplinary with expertise in law, economics, politics and management. It is closely linked to the UNESCO Water Centre at Dundee, and CEPMLP Director, Professor Peter Cameron, actively promoted the Glasgow 2015 World Water Forum campaign.
CEPMLP has attracted significant amounts of external funding for its research, amounting to around £5 million recently. This money comes from the European Union, the World Bank, Department of International Development and various research councils. Its EU project is currently delivering Policy Briefs to the European Commission.
Renewable energy research forms a key area of Centre's strategy for the future. Current work focuses on regulatory issues surrounding electricity market design with the rapid growth of intermittent supplies on the horizon. It has submitted a report to The Scottish Government on this at its request and has an open dialogue with the European Commission and key stakeholders on this, drawing upon its expertise in law, economics and trading.
Currently, the Centre is expanding its student recruitment: its senior teachers are active in Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Uganda, Turkey and Kurdistan to attract new students to its programmes. Its future lies as an educational hub with a variety of courses offered in Scotland or abroad and also on a distance learning basis.
CEPMLP offers several courses in international arbitration with a special emphasis upon the energy sector and its distinct problems.
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University of Dundee
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