Production operations at the Lance project have officially commenced after a five-year hiatus, with the first dry yellowcake product expected in March.

The French company has opened international arbitration proceedings against the State of Niger following the withdrawal of its mining licence for the Imouraren project in June.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved Urenco USA's licence amendment request to increase uranium enrichment levels up to 10% at its facility in New Mexico.

The Vancouver-based company is seeking arbitration on the basis that the State of Niger breached its legal obligations when it withdrew the company's mining permit for the Madouela uranium project earlier this year.

The US Department of Energy has selected six companies which will be able to compete for contracts to supply low-enriched uranium. It follows June's request for proposals to purchase LEU from domestic sources.

Russia's Rosatom is testing VVER nuclear fuel containing the neutron absorber erbium and uranium enriched to about 5%. It says such fuel could significantly increase the economic efficiency of nuclear power plants.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority subsidiary Nuclear Transport Solutions has been awarded funding by the UK government to spearhead the development of transport capabilities for the UK's future use of high-assay low-enriched uranium.

Nigerien authorities have taken operational control of SOMAÏR, Orano has confirmed, saying decisions taken at the board meetings of the company which operates the Arlit mine are no longer being applied.

France's Orano has signed two mixed-oxide fuel manufacturing contracts with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for a total of 64 MOX fuel assemblies for use in two Japanese nuclear power reactors.