2. The Dispute and Commencement of Arbitration

2.1 According to the Claimant, a dispute has arisen between the Parties under the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Bolivia for the Promotion and Protection of Investments, signed on May 24, 1988, entered into force on February 16, 1990 (the “Treaty”), and the application of which was extended to the Bermuda Islands on December 9, 1992 by an exchange of notes dated December 3 and 9, 1992.

2.2 By Notice of Arbitration dated April 30, 2013, the Claimant commenced arbitration proceedings against the Respondent pursuant to Article 8 of the Treaty and Article 3 of the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, as revised in 2010 (the “UNCITRAL Rules”). The Notice of Arbitration was received by the Respondent on the same date and on June 28, 2013, upon agreement of the Parties, the Respondent filed its Response to the Notice of Arbitration.

2.3 According to Article 3(2) of the UNCITRAL Rules, these arbitration proceedings are deemed to have commenced on April 30, 2013, the date on which the Respondent received the Notice of Arbitration.

3. Applicable Procedural Rules

3.1 Pursuant to Article 8(2) of the Treaty, this arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the UNCITRAL Rules.

3.2 By agreement of the Parties, the Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (the “PCA”) acts as the appointing authority in this arbitration for all purposes under the UNCITRAL Rules.