An organisation representing the USA's uranium producers has called on the US Department of Energy to halt transfers of federal excess uranium inventory until the uranium market recovers. The Uranium Producers of America said the domestic industry is currently in a fragile state after the transfer of large quantities of price-insensitive material over a long period.

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.

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 US Department of Energy has asked for public comment on the effects of potential transfers of its excess uranium inventory on the country's uranium mining, conversion and enrichment industries. The DOE's request was issued the day after the US Government Accountability Office raised issues related to excess uranium transfers over the past decade including questions on the DOE's assessment of market impact studies; the valuation of depleted uranium tails; and the legality of some transfers.

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.

Australia's minister for the environment and energy has approved Vimy Resources' development of the Mulga Rock uranium project. It is the final approval required for work to start on the project in Western Australia.

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.

Cameco yesterday announced its earnings expectations and operational changes planned for 2017. "While it is not our usual practice to disclose earnings expectations, we are announcing our earnings expectations for 2016 in advance of our participation in upcoming investor conferences due to the significant discrepancy between analyst earnings estimates and our current expectations," the Saskatchewan, Canada-based uranium producer said.

The government of Western Australia yesterday granted environmental approval to Cameco Australia's proposed Yeelirrie uranium project, subject to conditions that include measures to mitigate risks to underground fauna.

Kazakhstan plans to produce 10% less uranium in 2017 than previously planned in response to ongoing oversupply in the uranium market, Kazatomprom chairman Askar Zhumagaliyev announced today.

Developing production capacity to meet the world's uranium needs, rather than the availability of uranium resources, is a likely challenge over coming years according to the latest edition of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and International Atomic Energy Agency joint report on uranium resources, production and demand.