SIDDIQSONS TIN PLATE LIMITED v NEW METALLURGY HI-TECH GROUP CO., LTD.

[2024] SGHC 272 High Court (General Division) 25 October 2024 • HC/OA 809/2022 • 31 min read
13 cases cited (12 SG, 1 foreign)

Catchwords

Arbitration — Award — Recourse against award — Setting aside — Breach of natural justice — Section 24(b) International Arbitration Act 1994 (2020 Rev Ed)

Practice Areas

Arbitration

Judges (1)

Hri Kumar Nair Delivered

Counsel (8)

Dentons Rodyk & Davidson LLP Firm Genesis Law Corporation Firm Cheong Wei Wen John Counsel Applicant Lum Rui Loong Manfred Counsel Applicant Sandra Lye Hui Wen Counsel Defendant Tan KY Won Terence Counsel Defendant Tan Lena (Chen Lina) Counsel Defendant Zhulkarnain Bin Abdul Rahim Counsel Applicant

Parties (2)

New Metallurgy Hi-Tech Group Co Ltd Respondent Siddiqsons Tin Plate Ltd Applicant

Case Significance

In Siddiqsons Tin Plate Ltd v New Metallurgy Hi-Tech Group Co Ltd [2024] SGHC 272, the General Division of the High Court heard an application by Siddiqsons Tin Plate Ltd to set aside an arbitral award on the ground of breach of natural justice under section 24(b) of the International Arbitration Act 1994 (2020 Rev Ed). Siddiqsons, a publicly listed company established under the laws of the Republic of Pakistan, and New Metallurgy Hi-Tech Group Co Ltd, a company registered under the laws of the People's Republic of China, were parties to an arbitration commenced by New Metallurgy. The dispute arose from a contract under which New Metallurgy was to supply goods and services in relation to Siddiqsons' Cold Rolling Mill project in Karachi, Pakistan (the "CRM Contract"). Hri Kumar Nair J dismissed the application and provided brief grounds, later setting out his reasons in full after Siddiqsons appealed. The grounds of decision were issued on 25 October 2024.

Summary

Siddiqsons Tin Plate Ltd, a Pakistani listed company, applied to set aside an arbitral award made in favour of New Metallurgy Hi-Tech Group Co Ltd, a Chinese company, in a SIAC arbitration arising from two contracts relating to projects in Karachi, on the ground of breach of natural justice under s 24(b) of the International Arbitration Act 1994. The issue was whether the arbitral tribunal's award should be set aside for a breach of natural justice. The court dismissed the application, and set out its full reasons after Siddiqsons appealed.

On what ground did Siddiqsons seek to set aside the arbitral award in [2024] SGHC 272?

Siddiqsons Tin Plate Ltd applied to set aside the arbitral award for breach of natural justice under section 24(b) of the International Arbitration Act 1994 (2020 Rev Ed). Hri Kumar Nair J dismissed the application in the General Division of the High Court.

What was the underlying dispute in Siddiqsons Tin Plate Ltd v New Metallurgy Hi-Tech Group Co Ltd?

The dispute concerned a contract under which New Metallurgy Hi-Tech Group Co Ltd was to supply goods and services for Siddiqsons Tin Plate Ltd's Cold Rolling Mill project in Karachi, Pakistan, referred to in the judgment as the CRM Contract.

Statutes Cited

Arbitration Act (Cap 10) Cases on this Act →
International Arbitration Act (Cap 143A) Cases on this Act →
s 24(b)

Cases Cited (13)

SG (1)
[2024] SGHC 222
SLR (11)
[2003] 2 SLR(R) 287 [2007] 3 SLR(R) 86 [2013] 1 SLR 125 [2013] 4 SLR 972 [2014] 4 SLR 79 [2015] 3 SLR 154 [2015] 3 SLR 488 [2016] 4 SLR 768 [2020] 1 SLR 695 [2024] 4 SLR 979 [2024] 5 SLR 706
UK (1)
[2010] EWHC 3276

Referenced in

Statutes interpreted in this judgment

Arbitration Act International Arbitration Act

Legal concepts & references

Arbitration — Award

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Singapore Courts portal.

Read on eLitigation

Source: eLitigation ([2024] SGHC 272)