** Australian uranium producers rise after a potential supply shortage and subsequent higher metal prices

** Overnight, Canadian uranium miner Cameco CCO.TO suspended production at its Inkai joint venture with Kazatomprom KZAP.KZ in Kazakhstan due to delay in paperwork submission

** "Delays at Inkai could impact both CCO and KZAP's production outlook, contributing to market tightness and potentially leading to higher uranium prices," said George Ross, senior analyst, metals and mining research at Argonaut

** "This is positive for uranium producers like BOE and PDN, who have production ramping up at their respective operations" — Ross

** Local uranium producers Paladin Energy PDN.AX and Boss Energy BOE.AX fell as much as nearly 12.5% each

** PDN rose to its highest level since Nov. 11 while BOE touched its highest level in over a month

(Reporting by Sneha Kumar in Bengaluru)

((Sneha.Kumar@thomsonreuters.com))