Areva and KazAtomProm have today signed a new strategic agreement to strengthen their cooperation in Kazakhstan's uranium mining sector. The agreement opens new opportunities to develop and enhance their long-standing Katco joint venture.

A joint delegation from the European Union and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has held talks with the government of Kyrgyzstan on addressing the environmental legacy of uranium mining in Central Asia. 

ARMZ, Atomflot and VostokCoal have signed an agreement to cooperate in the development of the Russian Arctic region. The document was signed on 29 March by ARMZ director-general Vladimir Verkhovtsev, Atomflot general director Vyacheslav Ruksha and VostokCoal chairman Dmitry Bosov during the International Arctic Forum held last week in Arkhangelsk.

ARMZ, the uranium mining subsidiary of Russia's Rosatom, has started developing the Vershinnoye uranium deposit in the Republic of Buryatia, in southern Siberia. ARMZ said in a statement on Rosatom's website the deposit has 4577 tonnes of uranium reserves and that the first production by in situ leaching would be next year by its subsidiary JSC Khiagda.

Jordan and Saudi Arabia have signed agreements on cooperation in uranium exploration and carrying out a feasibility study into the construction of two small modular reactors (SMRs) in Jordan.

An International Atomic Energy Agency expert team is preparing independent cost estimates to help Tajikistan plan the remediation of uranium legacy sites in the north of the country.

Paladin Energy Limited plans to start arbitration proceedings against CNNC Overseas Uranium Holdings Ltd (CNNC Overseas) amid indications it will seek to acquire Paladin's interest in the Langer Heinrich uranium mine in Namibia. CNNC Overseas bought a 25% joint venture equity stake in Langer Heinrich for $190 million in January 2014.

The Euratom Supply Agency, the nuclear watchdog of the European Union, has approved Berkeley Energia's offtake agreement for the sale of the first production from its Salamanca uranium mine under development in Spain. The mine is expected to enter production in late 2018.

Cameco has confirmed it is evaluating the possibility of divesting its US uranium facilities, although no decision has yet been made to sell any assets. The company's combined operations at Smith Ranch-Highland in Wyoming is the largest uranium production facility in the USA.

France's Areva and China National Nuclear Corporation have signed a framework agreement for industrial and commercial cooperation in the nuclear fuel cycle.

A restructuring of Paladin Energy's balance sheet, announced in January, will position the Australia-based uranium company to increase production rather than service its debt in response to a 'normalising' uranium market, its CEO said yesterday.

Bannerman Resources Limited has completed its Etango heap leach demonstration plant project and begun work to incorporate its findings into the Namibian uranium project's definitive feasibility study.