Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro has issued a brief statement in which it largely claims victory in its long-running arbitration dispute with Muskrat Falls contractor Astaldi Canada. But big questions remain unanswered.

After repeated requests for information by CBC News, the public utility company confirmed Friday that it has received notice of final award from the arbitration panel and that it is “pleased with the tribunal’s decision.”

According to N.L. Hydro, the arbitrators ruled that the decision by one of its subsidiaries — Muskrat Falls Corporation —in late 2018 to oust Astaldi from the troubled hydroelectric project in Labrador was done properly.

The panel also “rejected the majority of Astaldi’s claims,” said the N.L. Hydro statement.

The statement says the utility is still assessing the decision and will release more information in the future, which means a wide range of questions remain unanswered:

• Was N.L. Hydro ordered to pay any money to Astaldi Canada?
• What became of the performance security of roughly $180 million that was seized from Astaldi when it was evicted from the project? Was some or all of it returned to Astaldi?
• How much did arbitration cost? Did the panel order one side to pay the costs of the other?
• What were the consequences of removing Astaldi from the project, and hiring a replacement contractor, both in terms of schedule and cost?

In response to these questions, CBC News received the following statement from Hydro:

“The settlement document remains confidential in accordance with the parameters of the arbitration process. We will be able to share more detail and accommodate an interview once we make our way through the decision.”

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