This is an appeal from an order of Aikens J made on 2 March 2006 dismissing an application by the Republic of Ecuador (‘Ecuador’) under section 67 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (‘the 1996 Act’) to set aside an award of arbitrators for want of substantive jurisdiction. The appeal is brought with the permission of the judge, whose judgment is reported at [2006] 1 Lloyd's Rep 773. The arbitration was held under the UNCITRAL Rules and the seat of the arbitration was London. The arbitration award was dated 1 July 2004. By their award, the arbitrators held that they had jurisdiction, made various declarations and directed that Ecuador pay the Occidental Exploration and Production Company (‘OEPC’) US$71,533,649 together with interest amounting to US$3,541,280. As the judge observed, all three arbitrators are well — known and respected public international law specialists, namely the Hon Charles N Brower and Dr Patrick Barrera Sweeney, who were appointed by OEPC and Ecuador respectively, and the chairman, Professor Francisco Orrego Vicuna, who was appointed under article 7 of the UNCITRAL Rules.