Operations
۱. The Enterprise shall propose to the Council projects for carrying out activities in accordance with article ۱۷۰. Such proposals shall include a formal written plan of work for activities in the Area in accordance with article ۱۵۳, paragraph ۳, and all such other information and data as may be required from time to time for its appraisal by the Legal and Technical Commission and approval by the Council.
۲. Upon approval by the Council, the Enterprise shall execute the project on the basis of the formal written plan of work referred to in paragraph ۱.
۳. (a) If the Enterprise does not possess the goods and services required for its operations it may procure them. For that purpose, it shall issue invitations to tender and award contracts to bidders offering the best combination of quality, price and delivery time.
(b) If there is more than one bid offering such a combination, the contract shall be awarded in accordance with:
(i) the principle of non-discrimination on the basis of political or other considerations not relevant to the
carrying out of operations with due diligence and efficiency; and
(ii) guidelines approved by the Council with regard to the preferences to be accorded to goods and services originating in developing States, including the land-locked and geographically disadvantaged among them.
(c) The Governing Board may adopt rules determining the special circumstances in which the requirement of invitations to bid may, in the best interests of the Enterprise, be dispensed with.
۴. The Enterprise shall have title to all minerals and processed substances produced by it.
۵. The Enterprise shall sell its products on a non-discriminatory basis. It shall not give non-commercial discounts.
۶. Without prejudice to any general or special power conferred on the Enterprise under any other provision of this Convention, the Enterprise shall exercise such powers incidental to its business as shall be necessary.
۷. The Enterprise shall not interfere in the political affairs of any State Party; nor shall it be influenced in its decisions by the political character of the State Party concerned. Only commercial considerations shall be relevant to its decisions, and these considerations shall be weighed impartially in order to carry out the purposes specified in article ۱ of this Annex.