Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MAPUTO669
2006-06-08 06:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Maputo
Cable title:  

MOZAMBIQUE - 2006 Report on Investment Disputes and

Tags:  ECON EAID EINV ETRD PGOV KIDE CASC MZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0017
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTO #0669 1590615
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080615Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5497
UNCLAS MAPUTO 000669 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR HTREGER
EB/IFD/OIA FOR JROSELI
L/CID FOR EDAUGHTRY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID EINV ETRD PGOV KIDE CASC MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE - 2006 Report on Investment Disputes and
Expropriation Claims

REF: A. STATE 60294


B. 05 Maputo 1062

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000669

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR HTREGER
EB/IFD/OIA FOR JROSELI
L/CID FOR EDAUGHTRY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID EINV ETRD PGOV KIDE CASC MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE - 2006 Report on Investment Disputes and
Expropriation Claims

REF: A. STATE 60294


B. 05 Maputo 1062


1. Post is aware of one (1) claim that may be outstanding
against the Government of the Republic of Mozambique (GRM).


2. Claimant A.


3. This potential claim arose on or around August 5, 2005.


4. In 2001 Claimant A received authorization for a foreign
investment project from the GRM's Ministry of Planning and
Finance. The GRM granted Claimant A a ten-year right to
operate (the "concession") in the District of Chifunde,
Province of Tete, with the option to renew for five years.
The concession was for the cultivation, fomentation and
commercialization of loose-leaf tobacco. Each year Claimant
A's subsidiary was required to submit a proposed program of
cultivation, fomentation and commercialization to the GRM,
allowing the subsidiary to proceed with the program for the
following season. This concession was one of several held
by Claimant A within the country of Mozambique.


5. On August 5, 2005, the Minister of Agriculture issued a
decision interrupting/revoking Claimant A's concession
rights in the District of Chifunde. On August 15, 2005,
Claimant A filed an appeal with the Minister of Agriculture
requesting reconsideration and revocation of the August 5
decision. The status quo was not maintained during
consideration of this appeal, and on September 15, 2005, the
Governor of Tete issued a decision granting another American
company the immediate right to operate the concession.
Claimant A maintains that the grounds given for
interruption/revocation of the concession were false, and
that the GRM failed to follow procedures outlined in the
concession agreement and Mozambican law regarding revocation
of concession rights.


6. In response to private sector and Claimant A's
complaints, on October 11, 2005, the Minister of Agriculture
sent the issue to the Governor of Tete for further
consideration. Fact-finding investigations were supposed to
occur but did not. Claimant A stated to Embassy officers
that it spent the following eight months trying to regain
possession and use-rights to the concession. Efforts
included meetings with the Governor of Tete, meetings with
governors of other provinces in which Claimant A had
concessions, meetings and correspondence with the Ministry
of Agriculture and presidential advisors, and open letters
by the private sector. Claimant A retained local legal
representation to assist in these efforts.


7. As the result of the loss of its concession in Tete,
Claimant A decided in March 2006 to cease all operations in
Mozambique. Claimant A informed the Embassy at that time
that it was in the process of filing an insurance claim
against the GRM and was considering pursuing international
arbitration under the Bilateral Investment Treaty.
According to Claimant A, it has suffered damages in an
amount exceeding ten (10) million dollars ($10,000,000) as
the result of the loss of this concession and its departure
from Mozambique.


8. The Embassy last received information on this dispute in
May 2006. The Mozambican press continues to report on
Claimant A's departure from Mozambique, and the GRM now
publicly claims Claimant A left voluntarily without notice
or reason.


9. Claimant A: Alliance One International (formerly
DIMON Incorporated). Post understands that Alliance One
International formed on May 13, 2005, as the result of a
merger of DIMON Incorporated ("DIMON") and Standard
Commercial Corporation ("Stancom"). The concession at issue
was originally granted to DIMON; however, both DIMON and
Stancom held concessions in Mozambique. Post does not have
any information indicating whether Alliance One or any of
its subsidiaries or predecessors signed a Privacy Act
waiver.

La Lime