Infobae Spain Highlights PBX International Law’s Role in International Energy Dispute Against Equatorial Guinea

Infobae Spain recently published an article on Gas and Welding S.L. v. Republic of Equatorial Guinea, an international investment dispute arising from the uncompensated expropriation of a company engaged in the industrial gases sector after more than twenty years of operations in Equatorial Guinea.

At PBX International Law, we appreciate the coverage of this case, which highlights the importance of protecting foreign investments and the challenges faced by companies developing long-term energy and industrial projects. The investment dates back to 2004, when Gas and Welding S.L. established Equatorial Guinea’s first air separation plant, producing liquid oxygen and nitrogen to supply strategic sectors, including industry and healthcare.

Several years later, the Government of Equatorial Guinea invited the company to join Sonagás S.A. in establishing Gas Guinea S.A., a joint venture dedicated to the storage, bottling, and distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for domestic and industrial use. The project expanded the regular supply of LPG throughout the country’s mainland region and represented a significant milestone in the development of Equatorial Guinea’s energy infrastructure.

The case also underscores the importance of legal certainty and investment protection for the development of long-term energy and industrial projects. The dispute is currently in the amicable settlement period provided for under the Bilateral Investment Treaty between Spain and Equatorial Guinea, prior to any potential arbitration before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Read the full Infobae Spain article to learn more about the case and its background: https://www.infobae.com/espana/2026/06/17/una-empresa-espanola-denuncia-a-guinea-ecuatorial-por-expropiar-su-compania-de-gas-sin-pagar-un-euro-tras-20-anos-de-trabajo-en-el-pais/