10 BERKELEY ENERGIA LIMITED
DIRECTORS’ REPORT
30 JUNE 2024
(Continued)
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW (Continued)
Business Strategies and Prospects for Future Financial Years (Continued)
• The Company’s activities are subject to Government regulations and approvals – The Company’s exploration
and any future mining activities are dependent upon the maintenance and renewal from time to time of the
appropriate title interests, licences, concessions, leases, claims, permits, environmental decisions, planning
consents and other regulatory consents which may be withdrawn or made subject to new limitations. The
maintaining or obtaining of renewals or attainment and grant of title interests often depends on the Company
being successful in obtaining and maintaining required statutory approvals for its proposed activities. The
mining licence for the Salamanca Project was granted in April 2014 and is valid until April 2044 (and renewable
for two further periods of 30 years each). Given the current permitting situation at the Salamanca Project, the
Company applied for, and has been granted a temporary suspension of activity work at the Retortillo mining
licence by the regional mining authorities, whilst the NSC II related and abovementioned appeals processes
are ongoing.
The Company closely monitors the status of its mining and exploration permits and licences and works closely
with the relevant government departments in Spain (as discussed above) to ensure the various licences are
maintained and renewed when required. However, there is no assurance that such title interests, licenses,
concessions, leases, claims, permits, decisions or consents will not be revoked, significantly altered or not
renewed to the detriment of the Company or that the renewals and new applications will be successful.
If such title interests, licences, concessions, leases, claims, permits, environmental decisions, planning
consents and other regulatory consents are not maintained or renewed then this could have a material adverse
effect on the Company’s financial performance and the price of its Ordinary Shares.
There can also be no assurances that the Company’s interests in its properties and licences are free from
defects. The Company has investigated its rights and believes that these rights are in good standing. There is
no assurance, however, that such rights and title interests will not be revoked or significantly altered to the
detriment of the Company.
In April 2021, the parliament in Spain (the “Spanish Parliament”) approved an amendment to the draft climate
change and energy transition bill relating to the investigation and exploitation of radioactive minerals (e.g.
uranium). The Spanish Parliament reviewed and approved the amendment to Article 10 under which: (i) new
applications for exploration, investigation and direct exploitation concessions for radioactive materials, and
their extensions, would not be accepted following the entry into force of this law; and (ii) existing concessions,
and open proceedings and applications related to these, would continue as per normal based on the previous
legislation. The new law was published in the Official Spanish State Gazette and came into effect in May 2021.
The Company currently holds legal, valid and consolidated rights for the investigation and exploitation of its
mining projects, including the 30-year mining licence (renewable for two further periods of 30 years) for the
Salamanca Project, however any new proceedings opened by the Company is now not allowed under the
aforementioned new law. This could create uncertainty and pose a risk on future applications, renewals or
proceedings the Company may have to make in the future at the Salamanca Project or elsewhere, which if
unfavourable could have a detrimental effect on the viability of the Salamanca Project or the Company’s pursuit
of other development opportunities.
Therefore, there can be no assurances that the Company’s rights and title interests will not be challenged or
impugned by third parties or governments in the future. To the extent that any such rights or title interests are
revoked or significantly altered to the detriment of the Company, then this could have a material adverse effect
on the Group’s financial performance and the price of its ordinary shares;
• The Company may be adversely affected by fluctuations in commodity prices – The price of uranium has
fluctuated widely since the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster in March 2011 and is affected by further
numerous factors beyond the control of the Company. Future production, if any, from the Salamanca Project
will be dependent upon the price of uranium being adequate to make these properties economic. The
Company currently does not engage in any hedging or derivative transactions to manage commodity price
risk, but as the Company’s Salamanca Project advances, this policy will be reviewed periodically;
• The Group’s projects are not yet in production – As a result of the substantial expenditures involved in mine
development projects, mine developments are prone to material cost overruns versus budget. The capital
expenditures and time required to develop new mines are considerable and changes in cost or construction
schedules can significantly increase both the time and capital required to build the mine; and
• Global financial conditions may adversely affect the Company’s growth and profitability – Many industries,
including the mineral resource industry, are impacted by these market conditions. Some of the key impacts of
the current financial market turmoil include contraction in credit markets resulting in a widening of credit risk,
devaluations and high volatility in global equity, commodity, foreign exchange and energy markets, and a lack
of market liquidity. A slowdown in the financial markets or other economic conditions may adversely affect the
Company’s growth and ability to finance its activities.