According to the regulatory authority, there was a lack of reliability and a high level of uncertainty about how radioactive waste would be stored in the facility.
Berkeley said at the time it was extremely disappointed with the decision and would consider options to defend its interests.
Berkeley’s Retortillo project in the western Salamanca region received preliminary approval in early 2013. Project development began in 2016, but since then the miner has struggled to get all the necessary permits to start construction.
It received a number of positive reviews from various regulatory agencies, such as two decisions by the Council on Nuclear Safety relating to preoperative monitoring plans for radiological and environmental effects and the control of groundwater.
In the meantime, however, several environmental groups have appealed against the company’s licenses and permits, while politicians in Spain and neighboring Portugal have spoken out against the project.
The latest news of the ministry’s rejection was therefore welcomed by activists who opposed the project, particularly the environmental group Stop Uranio, which has been fighting the mine for a decade.
Concerns related to the project include its impact on nearby livestock, mainly cattle.
With files from Bloomberg News.
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