Arbitral Digest

Matter

DNZ v DOA and another (Singapore International Commercial Court [2026] SGHC(I) 1)

An anonymized State challenged an ECT investment award in Singapore over EU-law jurisdiction, public policy, natural justice, and damages for an energy project.

  • Investor-state arbitration
  • Setting aside arbitral awards
  • Energy arbitration
  • Parallel proceedings
  • Jurisdiction and arbitration agreements
  • Public policy
  • UNCITRAL Model Law
Case no.
PCA Case No 2021-06
Seat
Singapore

Procedural record

  1. 9 January 2026Singapore

    9 January 2026Singapore

    Judgment of the Singapore International Commercial Court in the case Originating Application No 2 of 2025 dated 9 January 2026

    Singapore International Commercial Court

    Case no.
    Originating Application No 2 of 2025
    Citation
    [2026] SGHC(I) 1
    Decision summary
    The court dismissed the State's application to set aside the ECT Award, rejecting objections based on intra-EU jurisdiction, subject matter, fork in the road, public policy, and natural justice.

    Participants

    DNZ
    Representative
    Koh Swee Yen, SC (For: DNZ)
    Representative
    Daniel Gaw Wai Ming (For: DNZ)
    Representative
    Soh Kheng Yau Andre (For: DNZ)
    Representative
    Teo Wei Kiat Samuel (For: DNZ)
    Representative
    Wu Danqiong Danielle (For: DNZ)
    Representative
    WongPartnership LLP (For: DNZ)
    Representative
    Professor Steffen Hindelang (For: DNZ)
    DOA
    Representative
    Liew Wey-ren Colin (For: DOA · DOB)
    Representative
    Ngo Wei Shing (For: DOA · DOB)
    Representative
    Rajiv Hariharan (For: DOA · DOB)
    Representative
    Providence Law Asia LLC (For: DOA · DOB)
    Representative
    Professor Dan Sarooshi KC (For: DOA · DOB)
    Representative
    Marc Daniel Veit (For: DOA · DOB)
    Representative
    Robert Bradshaw (For: DOA · DOB)
    DOB
    Representative
    Liew Wey-ren Colin (For: DOA · DOB)
    Representative
    Ngo Wei Shing (For: DOA · DOB)
    Representative
    Rajiv Hariharan (For: DOA · DOB)
    Representative
    Providence Law Asia LLC (For: DOA · DOB)
    Representative
    Professor Dan Sarooshi KC (For: DOA · DOB)
    Representative
    Marc Daniel Veit (For: DOA · DOB)
    Representative
    Robert Bradshaw (For: DOA · DOB)
    Singapore International Commercial Court
    Judge
    Andre Maniam J
    Judge
    Dominique Hascher IJ
    Judge
    Vivian Ramsey IJ

    Authorities cited

    12
    • Energy Charter Treaty (17 December 1994), 2080 UNTS 95
      treaty
    • Treaty on European Union (7 February 1992), 1757 UNTS 3
      treaty
    • Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
      treaty
    • Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (23 May 1969), 1155 UNTS 331
      treaty
    • UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration
      model law
    • International Arbitration Act 1994 (2020 Rev Ed)
      statute
    • Slovak Republic v Achmea BV (CJEU Case C-284/16, ECLI:EU:C:2018:158)
      case
    • Republic of Moldova v Komstroy (CJEU Case C-741/19, ECLI:EU:C:2021:655)
      case
    • Soh Beng Tee & Co Pte Ltd v Fairmount Development Pte Ltd ([2007] 3 SLR(R) 86)
      case
    • JVL Agro Industries Ltd v Agritrade International Pte Ltd ([2016] 4 SLR 768)
      case
    • Swire Shipping Ltd v Ace Exim Pte Ltd ([2022] 2 SLR 113)
      case
    • CDX and another v CDZ and another ([2021] 5 SLR 405)
      case
  2. Date not availableSingapore

    Date not availableSingapore

    ECT Award dated 7 October 2024

    Decision summary
    The tribunal found the State liable for breaches of investor-protection obligations under Articles 10 and 13 of the Energy Charter Treaty and awarded damages to the UK Investors, subject to a provision avoiding double recovery with the BIT Award.

    Participants

    DNZ
    DOA
    DOB

Matter record

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DNZ v DOA and another (Singapore International Commercial Court [2026] SGHC(I) 1) · Matter