International Energy Investments: Tracking the Legal Concept

• Main Author: Ozge Varis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Groningen Press 2018-03-01
• Series: Groningen Journal of International Law
• Subjects: international investment law; energy law; energy investments
• Online Access: https://ugp.rug.nl/GROJIL/article/view/31128

International investment flows are rising firmly and rapidly on a daily basis throughout the world. In international investment flow energy plays a valuable role. The common point of international investment law regime and international energy law regime is, they remain many issues still to define and clarify in international investment law and energy law. In these undeveloped legal areas, the clarification of these basic issues has an essential role, as legal systems are established on the basis of clear terminology. While the significance of energy and energy-related issues in international investment law is mentioned above, there are still many blurred lines as to when “energy investments” in particular become relevant. In these situations, the limits of what may be considered an “energy investment” must be clarified. In order to explicitly explain references to “energy investments”, this article will firstly discuss the definition of international investments; secondly, the definition of energy will be analysed and then what is described as “an energy investment” will be thoroughly scrutinised. During these discussions, examples from other sectors’ investment disputes and other legal areas will also be examined and compared to provide more explicit answers as to the limits of the term.