WGII Washington Grp. International (MM)

BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AREVA, Washington Group International (NASDAQ:WGII) and BWX Technologies, Inc., have jointly submitted Expressions of Interest (EOI) to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for both the development and deployment of a Consolidated Fuel Treatment Center (CFTC) and an Advanced Burner Reactor (ABR). These EOIs support the DOE's Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) initiative and demonstrate that the AREVA-led team has the technology and experience to successfully accelerate GNEP safely and securely. GNEP aims to expand the use of nuclear power to address the growing demand for energy. The initiative can increase U.S. and global energy security and provide for a safe expansion of clean nuclear power. In August 2006, DOE announced its intention to seek EOIs from the domestic and international nuclear industry on the feasibility of accelerating development and deployment of a CFTC and an ABR. The CFTC will be capable of processing used nuclear fuel into recyclable, energy-producing components and final waste materials. It will serve also as a fuel manufacturing plant. The ABR, a new type of nuclear reactor, will be designed to use recycled nuclear materials in a way that generates electricity with the valuable content of the irradiated fuel as well as to consume minor actinides. About the Partners: AREVA is the largest nuclear energy vendor in America and the world's largest fuel cycle company. AREVA has been at the forefront of development, deployment and operations of treatment and recycling facilities as well as sodium-cooled reactors. Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, AREVA Inc.'s 5,000 American energy employees are committed to serve the nation and pave the way for the future of the electricity market. With 40 locations across the nation and nearly $2 billion in energy revenues in 2005, AREVA Inc., through its subsidiaries combines homegrown leadership, access to worldwide expertise and a proven track record of performance. In the U.S. and in over 100 countries around the world, AREVA is engaged in the 21st century's greatest challenges: making energy available to all, protecting the planet, and acting responsibly towards future generations. A primary contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy and its predecessor agencies since 1942, Washington Group International is a global leader in engineering, procurement, construction pre-operational testing, start-up and safe and efficient operation of complex nuclear and non-nuclear facilities. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, with more than $3 billion in annual revenue, the company has approximately 24,000 people at work around the world providing solutions in power, environmental management, defense, oil and gas processing, mining, industrial facilities, transportation and water resources. BWX Technologies, Inc. has a 50-year history of owning and operating nuclear and national security production facilities both commercially and for the DOE. BWXT is licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to fabricate, process, use and store highly enriched uranium. BWXT currently has a contract with the DOE at its Lynchburg Technology Center where it has demonstrated that spent nuclear fuel can be temporarily stored, transferred and repackaged safely and securely. BWXT is a wholly owned subsidiary of McDermott International, Inc., a leading worldwide energy services company. DATASOURCE: Washington Group International CONTACT: Penny Phelps of AREVA Inc., +1-301-841-1600; or Regina Carter of BWX Technologies, Inc., +1-434-522-5158; or Jerry Holloway of Washington Group International, +1-208-386-5255

Copyright