Peninsula Energy Limited has formally submitted a request to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to amend its existing permit to allow the use of a low-pH recovery solution at the Lance uranium project in Wyoming, USA. This is expected to increase recovery rates and improve the cost profile of the project. Meanwhile, a study has highlighted the potential of membrane separation to improve economics at GoviEx Uranium's Madouela project in Niger.

A new peer review service has been launched by the International Atomic Energy Agency to assist member states in the development of infrastructure for nuclear research reactors. The first Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review for Research Reactors mission was carried out last week in Nigeria.

Nigeria and Russia have signed agreements on the construction and operation of a nuclear power plant and a nuclear research centre, including a multi-purpose research reactor, in the African country.

Nigeria has a committed regulatory body that works for the continuous improvement of nuclear and radiation safety, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) peer review mission has concluded. However, it noted challenges related to its independence in implementing regulatory decisions and activities.

Nigeria wants to develop nuclear power to diversify its energy mix beyond the current mix dominated by fossil and hydro, Franklin Osaisai, head of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, told the AtomExpo conference in Moscow today. He wants Nigerian people to share ownership and management responsibility in a future program based on 'safety, security and respect'.

Niger has approved GoviEx's mining permit application for the Madaouela 1 tenement area, the company announced today. The approval means that the project is now fully permitted for construction and production.

The newly created West African Integrated Nuclear Power Group prepared a draft memorandum of understanding and three-year action plan at its first meeting, held last week in Niamey, Niger. The heads of delegations from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal will take the MOU document to their respective governments for signature, which will commit them to proceeding with the initial planning for a regional nuclear power program.

The Nigerien government and Areva have signed a new partnership that provides Niger with higher sovereign royalty payments from mining operations led by the French state-controlled firm.

French nationals from Areva and contractor Vinci have been released after three years in captivity. They were kidnapped by Islamic militants near the Arlit uranium deposit in Niger.

Areva's Somair uranium mine in Niger is now back to full operation following the terrorist attack in May that saw one worker killed and several injured.

UPDATED Areva has confirmed that 15 people were injured in a terrorist attack at its Somair uranium mine in Niger, one of which later died the same day. The site was the target of one of two simultaneous attacks in the north-west of the country.

Four French nationals including an Areva employee who have been held captive in Niger by Al Qaeda's North African arm for over two years are in good health, France's foreign minister has told their relatives.