U.S. Subsidiary of MHI Acquires Special Membership in American

NEI members include a variety of nuclear energy-related companies and institutions, including electric utility companies, plant designers, equipment manufacturers, engineering firms and universities. NEI develops policy and industrial standards on nuclear energy and technology from not only the American perspective but also a global standpoint; it also conducts diverse activities in areas such as public relations and lobbying as well as promotion of peaceful and friendly utilization of nuclear energy. NEI membership currently numbers more than 320 organizations and companies from 17 countries.

MNES is the fourth NEI member in the nuclear plant designer category. The other companies that have qualified for inclusion in the category are AREVA, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Westinghouse Electric Company.

MHI established MNES in Washington, D.C. in July 2006 and simultaneously began marketing the US-APWR, its advanced pressurized water reactor developed specifically for the U.S. market. The company submitted an application for design certification (DC) of the US-APWR by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the application was formally accepted for review in February 2008. The US-APWR design is to be initially applied at Comanche Peak Units 3 & 4 in Texas; and Luminant, the operator, has submitted an application to the NRC for a combined construction and operating license (COL). Luminant's COL application was successfully docketed by the NRC in December 2008.

NEI's granting of membership to MNES was based on such factors as smooth progress in the NRC's reviews of its DC and COL applications and strong recognition by the U.S. nuclear energy industry of the potential contribution of the US-APWR. Qualification for NEI membership also indicates that MHI and MNES have established a solid position as a supplier of advanced nuclear reactors to the U.S. market.

In response to its successful qualification for membership in NEI, MHI and MNES will now vigorously pursue business expansion opportunities in the U.S. nuclear power market, where many new plant construction projects are planned. At the same time the two companies will aim to contribute to the enhanced stability of nuclear energy supplies in the U.S. in a more aggressive manner.