Holtec International Launches the Chernobyl Dry Storage Project



    Holtec International and Ukraine government-owned Chernobyl
    Nuclear Plant have signed the protocol on August 3, 2007 to start the
    project to encase all of the irradiated nuclear fuel from Chernobyl's
    three undamaged reactors, that is temporarily stored in deep water
    pools, into leaktight containers for long-term safe storage. The
    project is funded by an "assembly" of industrialized countries that
    include the United States, most countries of Western Europe, Ukraine,
    and Japan. The London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and
    Development administers the project for the Assembly of Donors through
    a Project Management Unit (PMU) located at Chernobyl.

    The Chernobyl project was initially started in 1999 by a
    consortium led by Framatome ANP (now a part of Areva). Areva made some
    progress on the project, mainly in the civil/structural arena.
    However, the project ran into some insoluble technical problems in
    2003, leading to Areva and ChNPP amicably terminating the contract in
    the spring of 2007.

    The first phase of the project, expected to last 100 weeks, is
    valued at slightly over EUR 30 million. It involves engineering,
    licensing, and prototype testing. The second phase, supply of capital
    equipment, construction, and commissioning, expected to take
    approximately 160 weeks, is valued at approximately EUR 170 million,
    with November 2006 as the reference date.

    Hailing the Donor nations' decision to summon Holtec to finish the
    project, the company's President and CEO, Dr. Kris Singh, stated, "We
    are honored to be asked by the Assembly of Donors to complete their
    obligation to Ukraine, which shut down its three undamaged Chernobyl
    reactors in a grand gesture of accommodation to the world. Twenty-two
    thousand (22,000) fuel assemblies will make Chernobyl the largest of
    all dry storage installations in the world. We are thrilled to be the
    company engaged by the Assembly for completing this most significant
    milestone in the field of used nuclear fuel management."

    Holtec International, a diversified energy technology company with
    its headquarters in Marlton, New Jersey, is widely recognized as a
    world leader in the technologies to store and transport used nuclear
    fuel. Holtec International has a strong business presence in numerous
    countries, including the U.S., Mexico, China, Canada, Korea, Taiwan,
    Spain, Switzerland, and Ukraine.