WGII Washington Grp. International (MM)

BOISE, Idaho, March 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A joint venture comprising Washington Group International, AMEC, and AREVA has reached the next stage of the bid process to manage the Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria, United Kingdom. The joint venture brings together a unique capability focused on delivering the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's aim and objectives. In particular, the team has a strong safety culture, experience of delivering change and innovation, and a track record of open and transparent engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. What promises to be a highly competitive bidding process will culminate in a final decision as to who will take over from British Nuclear Group and manage the site from mid-2008 on a contract worth up to $2.5 billion a year. "The Sellafield competition is an exciting opportunity, and the members of this joint venture offer a unique capability based on performance worldwide and recognized by market-leading positions in the industry in the U.K., U.S., and France," said Stephen G. Hanks, president and chief executive officer of Washington Group International. "We are excited to be able to strengthen our Sellafield offering with the expertise of AMEC and AREVA." AMEC Chief Executive Officer Samir Brikho said, "AMEC is delighted to be part of a formidable joint venture that combines exactly the right blend of nuclear and commercial expertise. We look forward to bringing our world-class capabilities to the safe and cost-effective management of the Sellafield site." AREVA Senior Executive Vice President Jacques Besnainou said, "AREVA is delighted to work with our partners in supporting the NDA at Sellafield, where we can contribute our unique experience in spent fuel and high-level waste management." About the companies: Washington Group International is one of the world's leading engineering, construction, and management companies, with approximately 25,000 employees at work in more than 30 countries providing solutions in environmental management, power, oil and gas processing, defense, mining, industrial facilities, transportation, and water resources. The company's shares are traded on Nasdaq (NASDAQ:WGII). Over the last 60 years, Washington Group has developed particular expertise in nuclear engineering and nuclear waste management and is the market leader in the environmental management, nuclear waste management, and cleanup of nuclear sites for the U.S. government. It has the best safety record in the U.S. nuclear industry, and since 1989, it has been the lead contractor for the Savannah River Site, the U.S. equivalent to Sellafield. The company has also been responsible for the design, construction, and operation of the first deep geological repository in the U.S. licensed to dispose of nuclear waste. It has worked in the U.K. since 1999 as a contractor to BNFL, the U.K. Low-Level Waste Repository and various Magnox stations and has provided consultancy services to the NDA. AMEC plc is an international project management and services company that designs, delivers and supports infrastructure assets for customers across the public and private sectors. AMEC employs more than 20,000 people working from a network of offices throughout the U.K., U.S., and Canada, as well as regional offices and projects worldwide. AMEC's shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange where the company is listed in the Support Services sector (LSE:AMEC.L). AMEC is the largest U.K.-based private sector supplier of program management and engineering services to the nuclear sector. The business builds on AMEC's 50 year's experience in the nuclear market, and clients include BNFL, British Energy, UKAEA, AWE Aldermaston, and a wide range of international nuclear utilities. AREVA is the world leader in nuclear power and the only company to cover all industrial activities in this field. AREVA has developed unique experience in spent fuel and high-level waste management, and the company's 58,000 employees are committed to continuous improvement on a daily basis, making sustainable development the focal point of the group's industrial strategy. AREVA has manufacturing facilities in 40 countries and a sales network in more than 100 and offers customers reliable technological solutions for CO2-free power generation and electricity transmission and distribution. DATASOURCE: Washington Group International CONTACT: Media, Jerry Holloway or Laurie Spiegelberg, +1-208-386-5255, or Investors, Earl Ward, +1-208-386-5698, all of Washington Group International Web site: http://www.wgint.com/

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