Summary

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The dispute concerns certain actions by Slovenia in breach of its obligations under the UK - Slovenia bilateral investment treaty (the BIT) and the Energy Charter Treaty (the ECT), to which the UK, Malta and Slovenia are parties. These actions have caused considerable harm to the Investors' investments in Slovenia.

Protected investors and investment

Ascent UK is a company incorporated in the UK, where it also has its legal seat. Ascent UK is thus a protected investor pursuant to Article 1(d)(i) of the BIT and Article 1(7)(a)(ii) of the ECT. Ascent Malta is a company incorporated in Malta, where it also has its legal seat. As such, it is also a protected investor under Article 1(7)(a)(ii) of the ECT.

The Investors have made substantial investments in Slovenia in connection with the development of the Petisovci oil and gas field (the Field). Overall, they have invested sums in excess of 50 million in Slovenia.

Ascent Malta is a party to a joint venture with Geoenergo, raziskave in pridobivanje surove nafte in zameljskega plina d.o.o. (Geoenergo), a Slovenian company, in relation to the development and operation of the Field. Ascent Malta holds a 75% participating interest in the joint venture, while Geoenergo holds the remaining 25%. The joint venture was first established under a Joint Venture Agreement dated 23 March 2001 and is currently governed by the Restated Joint Operating Agreement between Ascent Malta and Geoenergo dated 30 October 2013 (the JOA).

Geoenergo holds a number of licenses in relation to the Field granted by the Government of Slovenia, (the Licenses). It is also a party to a Concession Contract with the Government of Slovenia dated 28 November 2002 which grants it a right to exploit the Field (the Concession).

Under the JOA, Ascent Malta bears all the costs of the financing of the development and operation of the Field (Clause 8.3) and shall be entitled to 90% of the proceeds from the hydrocarbons produced by the Field until its expenditure is fully recovered (Clause 8.4(a)), after which it shall be entitled to 75% of the proceeds (Clause 8.1).

Ascent Malta's contractual rights under the JOA are therefore a protected investment of the Investors under Article 1(a)(iii) of the BIT and Article 1(6)(c) of the ECT. The Investors' indirect rights to the production of hydrocarbons under the Licenses and the Concession are also a protected investment under Article 1(a)(v) of the BIT and Article 1(6)(f) of the ECT.

Additionally, Ascent UK owns 100% of the shares in two Slovenian companies - Ascent Resources d.o.o. and Trameta d.o.o. (the Slovenian Subsidiaries). Ascent Resources d.o.o. performed works in relation to the development of the Field, while Trameta d.o.o. owns a land plot intended for the construction of a gas export pipeline. Ascent UK's shares in the Slovenian Subsidiaries are a protected investment under Article 1(a)(ii) of the BIT and Article 1(6)(b) of the ECT.

Background

Ascent Malta began making investments in Slovenia in 2001, when, under its previous name Nemmoco Slovenia Corporation, it entered into the 2001 Joint Venture Agreement in relation to the Field.

Ascent UK began making investments in Slovenia in 2007, when it acquired Ascent Malta (then still operating under its previous name).

Prior to the Investors' investment, the Field had been in production since 1943. Since 1956, it had periodically undergone low-volume hydraulic stimulation in order to increase the volume of production. Between 1956 and 1990, low-volume hydraulic stimulation was carried out in the Field more than 30 times.

As you may be aware, low-volume hydraulic stimulation is a process used to increase the production of gas wells, whereby water is injected into the soil substrata in order to stimulate the gas production. Low-volume hydraulic stimulation involves the injection into a well of less than 1,000 m3 of water per fracturing stage or less than 10,000 m3 of water during the entire process. It is distinct from high- volume hydraulic simulation, which involves the injection of water above these volumes.

To date, no environmental concerns associated with such low-volume hydraulic stimulation of the Field have been identified. Accordingly, at the time Ascent UK and Ascent Malta made their investments, they legitimately expected that they would also be able to continue carrying out such low-volume hydraulic stimulation. Unfortunately, Slovenia's actions frustrated the Investors' legitimate expectations and prevented them from developing the Field.

In the beginning of 2011, as part of the development of the Field by the Investors, two new wells (well PG-10 and well PG-11A, together, the Wells) were drilled. Afterwards, low-volume hydraulic stimulation was performed at the deepest layers of the Wells, and test production of gas commenced thereafter. No preliminary screening assessment or environmental impact assessment (EIA) needed to be carried out, as both the amount of gas expected to be produced by the Wells and the area of gas production were significantly below the thresholds stipulated by Slovenian law above which an EIA would be required.

In order to maintain the levels of gas produced, in 2017 it became necessary to carry out another round of low-volume hydraulic stimulation of the Wells. Under Slovenian law, no preliminary screening assessment nor any EIA were required to do so. However, in an abundance of caution on 10 May 2017 Geoenergo made an application for a preliminary screening assessment (the PS Application) with the Slovenian Environmental Agency (Agencija Republike Slovenije za Okolje, or ARSO).

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Next steps

The Investors hereby formally consent to submit their investment dispute with Slovenia to international arbitration under Article 8(2) of the BIT and Article 26(2)(c) and (4) of the ECT, and reserve their right to initiate international arbitral proceedings in accordance with these provisions. This letter shall be considered as a formal notification of the existence of a dispute under Article 8(1) and (2) of the BIT and Article 26(1) and (2) of the ECT.

We sincerely hope that an amicable solution can be found to the present dispute, and will welcome any constructive proposals you may have. To that end, the Investors are ready to engage at a senior level with the Government of Slovenia at the earliest possible opportunity in a process of negotiations focused on resolving amicably the issues in dispute.

The Investors fully reserve all of their rights and remedies arising out of Slovenia's treaty breaches. Nothing in this letter should be considered as a limitation of any kind on the facts, evidence, or legal arguments the Investors may present, or on the legal rights and remedies they may pursue, in support of their claims before an arbitral tribunal or otherwise.

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