فاطمه ثقفی

Dispute Resolution Boards and Expert Panels, as modern mechanisms of dispute settlement, play a pivotal role in managing conflicts in large-scale oil and gas projects. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of these institutions at both national and international levels, through a comparative examination of their structure, jurisdiction, and procedural mechanisms. Ultimately, it evaluates the feasibility of substituting these mechanisms for arbitration in the oil and gas industry.

The research adopts a descriptive–analytical methodology, drawing upon legal instruments, international contracts, guidelines issued by the Ministry of Petroleum, and case studies to identify the challenges and opportunities faced by these institutions. The findings demonstrate that Dispute Resolution Boards, operating in three main models—Dispute Review Boards (non-binding recommendations), Dispute Adjudication Boards (provisionally binding decisions), and Combined Boards (hybrid forms)—have successfully reduced disputes by ۷۰–۹۰ percent. In Iran, despite recent progress in drafting relevant guidelines, significant challenges remain, including the absence of a comprehensive legal framework, the non-binding nature of decisions, and a shortage of experienced professionals. Likewise, expert determination and expert panels, while providing advantages such as speed and technical precision, encounter difficulties with the enforceability of their outcomes.

The results suggest that integrating Dispute Resolution Boards into Iranian oil and gas contracts, enacting comprehensive legislation, establishing a national center for the training and accreditation of specialists, and harmonizing domestic practices with international standards can considerably enhance the effectiveness of these mechanisms. The study concludes that by drawing on successful international experiences and adapting them to the local context, Iran can develop an efficient dispute resolution framework for its oil and gas industry—one that offers a viable alternative to arbitration.

Keywords: Integration of dispute boards, types of dispute resolution boards, expert determination, substitution for arbitration, dispute resolution in the oil and gas industry, dispute boards, expert panels.