9th Apr 2021 17:58
(Alliance News) - Clean energy company Berkeley Energia Ltd on Friday noted media reports following a meeting of Spanish regulator that discussed the approval of an amendment to the draft climate change & energy transition bill relating to the investigation and exploitation of radioactive minerals.
The AIM-listed company noted that the amendment to the draft climate change and energy transition bill approved by the Commission of Ecological Transition of the Parliament in Spain must now be reviewed and approved or rejected by the Spanish Senate.
The move follows a meeting of the Ecological Transition Ponencia in Spain in February, which discussed changes to a proposed amendment to the draft climate bill relating to the exploitation of radioactive minerals. The Ponencia is a sub-committee of the Commission of the Ecological Transition in Spain, which was formed to carry out a detailed study of the proposed amendments to the draft climate change and energy transition bill.
The modified amendment proposed by Ponencia states: "As of the entry into force of this law, no new applications will be accepted for the granting of exploration permits, investigation permits or direct exploitation concessions, nor their extensions, regulated under Law 22/1973, of July 21, on mines of radioactive minerals, as defined in Law 25/1964, of April 29, on nuclear energy, when such resources are extracted for their radioactive, fissile or fertile properties.
"In addition, applications for the authorisation of new radioactive facilities of the nuclear fuel cycle for the processing of radioactive minerals, as defined in the regulation on nuclear and radioactive facilities, will no longer be accepted."
However, existing concessions, as well as open proceedings and applications related to these, will continue as normal based on the current legislation.
The group expressed its opposition to the draft amendment, stating that "prohibition of economic activities in Spain with no justified reasons is contrary to the Spanish Constitution and to the legal rights recognised by other international instruments".
Concerning the Salamanca mine, the only approval left before full construction can start is authorisation for construction for the uranium concentrate plant as a radioactive facility. The company said it is continuing to engage with the relevant authorities to advance the approvals process
Berkeley Energia shares closed 8.4% higher in London on Friday at 35.50 pence each.
By Evelina Grecenko; [email protected]
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