Oil Company's $80M Payment for Production Sharing Contract Breach Ruled as Damages, Not Service Consideration

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....ANP demanded settlement fees from appellant following breach of Production Sharing Contract (PSC). The AAAR determined that USD 80,000,000 payment constituted liquidated damages for PSC breach, not consideration for services. The payment was made to compensate losses under clause 4.5(a)(iii), with no evidence of agreement for ANP to perform, refrain from, or tolerate specific acts in exchange. Following established principles on liquidated damages, such payments represent mere flow of money without constituting consideration for supply. The AAAR overturned previous ruling which incorrectly characterized payment as service-related. Appellant not liable for GST on settlement fees as payment qualified as damages rather than consideration for supply under GST framework.....