Feb 6 (Reuters) - Australia's Berkeley Energia (BKY.AX) , opens new tab said on Friday it had filed a memorial of claim for about $1.25 billion against Spain at the World Bank's arbitration tribunal, up from a previous request, over the blocked Salamanca uranium project.

The mining group said its unit, Berkeley Exploration, filed the claim with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes and has included factual background on the project and the dispute, key witness statements, an assessment of damages, and other reports.

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The company initially filed a request for arbitration in May 2024 to seek $1 billion in damages from the Spanish government after it refused to grant final approval for its uranium mine project.

The project, located near Salamanca, received preliminary approval in 2013, but Spain's Energy Ministry refused final approval in 2021 and again in 2023.

Berkeley had accused the government in 2024 of infringing on its rights under the Energy Charter Treaty, an international agreement designed to promote energy security through a more open and competitive energy market.

Spain has until July 2026 to respond to the memorial of claim, the company said in a statement on Friday.

Shares of the company fell as much as 8.8% to A$0.52, in tandem with the broader mining sub-index (.AXMM) , opens new tab, which was down 2.8%, as of 0030 GMT.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/australias-berkeley-energia-files-125-billion-claim-spain-over-uranium-project-2026-02-05/