Total Energies Withdraws Arbitration in South Africa

TotalEnergies Marketing Limited has withdrawn a fresh arbitration it initiated in South Africa after the High Court in Malawi dismissed its application last week to halt local proceedings here.  

The withdrawal paves the way, as ordered earlier by the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal, for a full trial in the High Court Commercial Division in Lilongwe. Prima Fuels and the Malawi Government are jointly claiming $480 million.  

The Attorney General’s (AG) Chambers received communication from South African lawyer Lumbani Mbale, engaged by the AG, Honourable Frank Mbeta, that TotalEnergies’ legal representatives at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr have formally withdrawn the matter.  

TotalEnergies, headquartered in France, faces claims amounting to  $480 million (approximately K824 billion): $180 million owed to the Malawi Government in fuel rebates and $300 million owed to Prima Fuels