Westinghouse has withdrawn its request for an urgent interdict against South African utility Eskom. The Toshiba-owned company will, however, continue legal action to obtain a review of a decision to award a tender for replacement steam generators for the Koeberg nuclear power plant to France’s Areva.

South Africa has confirmed its commitment to nuclear power, allocating ZAR850 million ($81 million) – over 10% of its energy ministry's budget – to research and development.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced plans to establish a BRICS "energy association" that will include a fuel reserve bank and an energy policy institute.

• First consignment from Cooke
• Business as usual at Kazakh operations
• Areva wins Vattenfall contract
• Paladin progress
• Skyharbour buys into Athabasca Basin

The National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute has been formally launched by South Africa's energy minister. It will be responsible for the management and disposal of the country's radioactive waste.

• Karoo expands resources
• Denison to acquire partner
• Black Range out of Utah mill deal
• Rio Tinto out of Vulcan

Separate incidents at research reactors supplying molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) have once again illustrated the fragile nature of the medical isotope's supply chain. Meanwhile a unique new facility has started production of lead-212.

South Africa's Koeberg nuclear power plant can now boast two state-of-the-art operator training simulators with the commissioning of a second facility. Major refurbishment work has also been completed on Koeberg's first simulator.

Russia is funding a new technology centre in Vietnam and cooperating with an Argentine university, helping develop the skills needed for nuclear programs in those countries. Meanwhile, Rosatom claims more than 15,000 jobs could be created if South Africa proceeds with its nuclear energy expansion plans.

A contract for the completion and commissioning of the uranium plant at the Mine Waste Solutions (MWS) tailings recovery project in South Africa has been awarded to MDM Engineering.

A new nuclear cooperation agreement struck between South Africa and the European Union (EU) will support joint nuclear research and could help open access to South Africa's uranium resources.

Russia is offering to help South Africa to develop its own nuclear industry from resource production to power plant design and manufacture, Vladimir Putin has told South African president Jacob Zuma.