SECTION 24 — Decision as to the costs of the arbitration

24.1 The final award of the arbitrator, other than the decision on the merits, shall fix the costs of the arbitration and decide which of the parties shall bear them or in what proportion they shall be borne by the parties. 24.2 The costs of arbitration shall include: a) the fees of the arbitrator and the administrative expenses fixed by the Court, expenses incurred by the arbitrator, the running costs of the arbitral tribunal, fees and expenses of experts appointed by the arbitral tribunal. The fees of arbitrators and the administrative expenses of the Court shall be fixed in accordance with the scale schedule of fees established by the General Assembly of the Court and approved by the Council of Ministers of OHADA, in accordance with Article 4 of the Treaty. b) Costs incurred by the parties for the defence of their claims, as assessed by the arbitrator upon the application therefor by the parties. 24.3 Where prevailing circumstances so exceptionally require, the Court may fix the fees of the arbitrator at an amount inferior or superior to that indicated on the scale of fees.