Case Details

Bellwether International, Inc. and Tecnipetrol Inc. v. Republic of Ecuador and Empresa Pública de Hidrocarburos del Ecuador (EP Petroecuador) (ICSID Case No. ARB/25/12)

Subject of Dispute:

Oil & gas enterprise
Economic Sector:

Oil, Gas & Mining
Instrument(s) Invoked:

Contract
Applicable Rules:

ICSID Convention - Arbitration Rules

(a) Original Proceeding

Claimant(s)/Nationality(ies):

Bellwether International, Inc. (U.S.), and Tecnipetrol Inc. (Panamanian)
Respondent(s):

Republic of Ecuador (Ecuadorian), Empresa Pública de Hidrocarburos del Ecuador (EP Petroecuador) (Ecuadorian)
Date Registered:

March 20, 2025
Date of Constitution of Tribunal:

July 9, 2025

Composition of Tribunal

President:

Eduardo ZULETA (Colombian) - Appointed by the Parties
Arbitrators:

Alfredo BULLARD (Peruvian, Spanish) - Appointed by the Claimant(s)
Luis Alberto GONZÁLEZ GARCÍA (British, Mexican) - Appointed by the Respondent(s)

Party Representatives

Claimant(s):

Three Crowns, Madrid, Spain
TADIR Dispute Resolution, Quito, Ecuador
Romero Abogados, Quito, Ecuador
Respondent(s):

Procuraduría General del Estado, Quito, Ecuador
Ministerio de Energía y Minas, Quito, Ecuador
Empresa Pública de Hidrocarburos del Ecuador (EP Petroecuador), Quito, Ecuador
Squire Patton Boggs, Miami, FL and New York, NY, U.S.A.
Language(s) of Proceeding:

Spanish
Status of Proceeding:

Pending
Latest Development:

December 28, 2025 - The Respondents file a request to address the objections to jurisdiction as a preliminary question pursuant to ICSID Convention Article 41(2) and ICSID Arbitration Rule 44.

No References Available.

(a) Original Proceeding

Date	Development
March 20, 2025	The Secretary-General registers a request for the institution of arbitration proceedings.
April 20, 2025	Following appointment by the Claimants, Alfredo Bullard (Peruvian/Spanish) accepts his appointment as arbitrator.
May 8, 2025	Following appointment by the Respondents, Luis González García (Mexican/British) accepts his appointment as arbitrator.
July 8, 2025	Following appointment by agreement of the parties, Eduardo Zuleta (Colombian) accepts his appointment as presiding arbitrator.
July 9, 2025	The Tribunal is constituted in accordance with Article 37(2)(a) of the ICSID Convention. Its members are: Eduardo Zuleta (Colombian), President, appointed by agreement of the Parties; Alfredo Bullard (Peruvian/Spanish), appointed by the Claimants; and Luis González García (Mexican/British), appointed by the Respondents.
August 29, 2025	The Respondents file a request for the Tribunal to decide on production of documents.
September 1, 2025	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 1 concerning procedural matters.
September 1, 2025	The Tribunal holds a first session by video conference.
September 8, 2025	The Claimants file observations on the Respondents’ request for the Tribunal to decide on production of documents.
September 16, 2025	The Respondents file a response to the Claimants’ observations of September 8, 2025.
September 23, 2025	The Claimants file further observations on the Respondents’ request for the Tribunal to decide on production of documents.
October 6, 2025	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 2 concerning production of documents.
November 13, 2025	The Claimants file a memorial on the merits.
December 23, 2025	The Respondents file a request for security for costs.
December 28, 2025	The Respondents file a request to address the objections to jurisdiction as a preliminary question pursuant to ICSID Convention Article 41(2) and ICSID Arbitration Rule 44.