RE: Ascentom bliža1 Mar 2021 11:14
full google translation of article in the
https://www.pomurec.com/vsebina/61516/Se_spor_med_Slovenijo_in_Ascentom_bliza_koncu?
Is the dispute between Slovenia and Ascent coming to an end?
24.02.2021 at 6:00
On Friday, the Republic of Slovenia informed the British company Ascent Resources, which deals with the extraction of natural gas in Petišovci, that it would respond to the settlement offer on 19 March.
Ascent Resources is in dispute with the Republic of Slovenia due to complications in obtaining a permit for the use of hydraulic stimulation
Let us recall that Ascent's main complaint is that Slovenian institutions exceeded the deadlines in the decision-making process on the request for environmental impact assessment in small-scale hydraulic well stimulation procedures in Petišovci. In addition, they challenge the decision of the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia (Arso), according to which an environmental impact assessment is required.
A preliminary procedure to determine whether the implementation of small-scale hydraulic stimulation in wells PG-10 and PG-11a affects the environment was started in May 2017. At that time, Arso received the opinion of six experts, all of whom ensured that such activity had no impact on environment.
Nevertheless, in March 2018, Arso decided that an environmental impact assessment would have to be carried out. The investor appealed to the second-instance body, the Ministry of the Environment, which rejected the appeal in June last year. Ascent claims that the ARSO did not make an impartial decision, as the Minister of the Environment made statements several times during the proceedings, which portrayed Ascent in a negative light.
In September last year, Ascent formally initiated proceedings to initiate a lawsuit against Slovenia before an arbitral tribunal, and direct negotiations between Ascent and the Republic of Slovenia began last October.
On Friday, the Slovenian side informed the British that it would be able to respond to the settlement proposal on 19 March. At the same time, the Republic of Slovenia also demanded that Ascent not initiate any arbitration proceedings until 19 March. Ascent agrees to postpone international arbitration until the proposed date.
They did not announce more about the settlement from Ascent, but added that they expect the settlement talks to end in four weeks, and then the settlement agreement to be signed as soon as possible, Finance reports.
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