Just FI...
A UK mining company says it will make good on a threatened investment treaty claim against Mexico over a cancelled lithium project after it secured financing from Australia’s Litigation Capital Management.
globalarbitrationreview.com
The UK-based company is Cadence Minerals and its ICSID claim relates to its Sonora Lithium project, one of the world's largest lithium deposits.
Issue:
In August 2023, the Mexican government cancelled the mining concessions for the project following the country's nationalisation of its lithium sector in 2022.
Claim:
Cadence and its subsidiary REM Mexico claim that these actions effectively "destroyed the value" of their investment and breached the UK-Mexico Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), specifically protections against unlawful expropriation and unfair treatment.
Partner:
Cadence holds a 30% interest in the joint venture companies holding these concessions, alongside the Chinese lithium giant Ganfeng Lithium, which is also pursuing legal action against Mexico. In June 2024, Gangfeng (70% owner) initiated ICSID proceedings (ARB/24/21) against Mexico for the expropriation of the mining tenement.
While the Mexican govt did its thing through legislative channels but without compensation (rightly or wrongly), the DRC did its thing through its nationally recognised process, govt sanctioned graft and corruption.
Cheers
F