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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2023
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES.  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Future operations on the Company’s properties are subject to federal and state regulations for the protection of the environment, including air and water quality. The Company evaluates the status of current environmental laws and their potential impact on current operating costs and accrual for future costs. The Company believes its operations are materially compliant with current, applicable environmental regulations.

At any given time, the Company may enter into negotiations to settle outstanding legal proceedings and any resulting accruals will be estimated based on the relevant facts and circumstances applicable at that time. We do not expect that such settlements will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

On December 13, 2018, Westwater filed a Request for Arbitration against the Republic of Turkey before the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID”), pursuant to the Treaty between the United States of America and the Republic of Turkey concerning the Reciprocal Encouragement and Protection of Investments (the “Treaty”), seeking damages and other relief. The Request for Arbitration was filed as a result of the Republic of Turkey’s unlawful actions against the Company’s licenses for the Temrezli and Sefaatli uranium projects owned by Westwater’s Turkish subsidiary Adur Madencilik Limited Sirketi (“Adur”). Specifically, in June 2018, the Turkish government cancelled all of Adur’s exploration and operating licenses with retroactive effect, rendering Westwater’s investment in Adur effectively worthless. On March 3, 2023, the arbitral tribunal issued its final award in the proceeding. The tribunal agreed with Westwater that Westwater’s investment in Turkey was protected by the Treaty, and that Turkey’s cancellation of the Company’s licenses for the Temrezli and Sefaatli uranium projects owned by Adur amounted to an expropriation of Westwater’s investment in violation of Turkey’s obligations under the Treaty. The tribunal disagreed with Westwater’s projections of what its investment was worth and how much the investment would have returned if Turkey had not cancelled the licenses. The tribunal’s award requires Turkey to pay Westwater approximately $1.3 million in damages, approximately $3.7 million to reimburse Westwater for its fees, expenses and costs of the arbitration, and interest in an amount yet to be determined.  

In Westwater’s arbitration proceeding against the Republic of Turkey, subsequent to the issuance of the tribunal’s decision on March 3, 2023, Westwater filed a Notice of Rectification on April 14, 2023. Turkey filed its response on May 19, 2023; Westwater filed its reply on June 2, 2023; and Turkey filed its rejoinder on June 14, 2023. The Notice of Rectification sought to correct an error in the tribunal’s calculation of the amount of the award. On July 27, 2023, the tribunal issued its decision, denied Westwater’s request for rectification, and awarded Turkey approximately $54 thousand for its costs.

As of June 30, 2023, Westwater has not recognized the tribunal’s award in its consolidated financial statements. Recognition of the tribunal’s award in Westwater’s consolidated financial statements occurs when and if collection is probable.