Hmmm... what about that $20 million SAG mill that GRZ is still trying to sell. And let's not forget about all those signed letters of compliance that GRZ received from VZ officials -- one of which is actually dated AFTER their permit was recinded. I'm sure the ICSID judges had a good laugh about that one.

Venezuela wants to disqualify their own arbitrator?

If there's any truth to this article, then VZ must be approaching a very serious crisis -- probably the end of the so-called Bolivarian Revolution.

The IMF will impose very strict conditions on any loans. I'm sure they would not take kindly to VZ refusing to pay any ICSID awards.

http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2013/09/14/1566228/venezuela-busca-acercamiento-con.html

See link.

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=1004442&CategoryId=10717

I don't know what advantage there would be in bifurcating the case; perhaps no_bear or someone else can comment. I do know that Gold Reserve did not bifurcate their case, so an award (if any) should be announced with the ruling. Seems reasonable for the Crystallex case to follow GRZ's format. They both seem much simpler than this Conoco case.