Marubeni Corporation (Marubeni), The Tokyo Electric Power Company, 
Incorporated (TEPCO) and Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. (Chubu) 
(hereinafter, the COMPANIES) have decided to participate in a 
new uranium mine development and production project promoted by 
Kazatomprom (hereinafter, KAP), a state-owned nuclear fuel 
enterprise in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The COMPANIES have 
acquired an indirect ownership interest in the project companies 
of Kyzylkum LLP and Baiken-U LLP through an investment in a 
KAP-related company which has ownership and control over Kyzylkum 
LLP and Baiken-U LLP (current investment ratio: Marubeni 60%, 
TEPCO 30%, Chubu 10%). Tohoku Electric Power Co. Inc. also has 
decided to participate in the project, and is planning to purchase 
a partial indirect ownership interest in the project companies from 
the COMPANIES.

This project entails the development of the Kharassan uranium mine 
in southern Kazakhstan (Kyzylkum LLP is developing the Kharassan-1 
uranium deposit and Baiken-U LLP is developing the Kharassan-2 uranium 
deposit). The project is targeting the start of test production from 
around 2007, with a projected ramp to a full annual production of 
approximately 5,000MTU (combined) by around 2014 and continued 
production until around 2050. The combined potential uranium production 
could be over 160,000MTU (*1). The COMPANIES have the right to 
obtain up to an aggregate annual quantity of 2,000MTU of the uranium 
concentrate produced from the two deposits.

Kazakhstan has the world´s second largest uranium reserve. In August 
2006, then-Prime Minister Koizumi, who became the first Japanese Prime 
Minister to visit Kazakhstan, and Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev issued 
a joint statement extolling the "successful materialization of 
significant projects in the area of exploration, development and 
production of uranium resources". This joint statement greatly contributed 
to the participation of the COMPANIES in this project.

The Japanese government and the Kazakhstan government plan to confirm 
their cooperative relationship for the smooth facilitation of this project 
at the government-private joint mission led by Minister Amari of the 
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry which will be held at the end 
of this month.

As an alternative energy to fossil fuel as well as an effective 
counter-measure against global warming, Marubeni has been promoting 
peaceful use of nuclear energy as one of its vital business areas. 
Marubeni is participating in this project from the viewpoint of 
expanding Marubeni´s nuclear fuel cycle value chain as well as 
contributing to energy security in Japan.

From the perspective of the stability and economy of nuclear power 
generation, TEPCO considers it an important task to secure a stable 
and long-term supply of uranium. Up until now TEPCO has entered into 
long-term uranium supply contracts with uranium suppliers in Canada 
and Australia, but it views its participation in this project as a 
way to further diversify and stabilize its long-term uranium supply.

Chubu similarly considers it an important task to secure a stable 
and long-term supply of uranium from the perspective of the stability 
and economy of nuclear power generation, and views its participation 
in this project as a way to further diversify and stabilize its 
long-term uranium supply.

A part of the funds necessary for the development of this project is 
expected to be obtained from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation 
(JBIC) through its natural resources financing.

As for the investment by the COMPANIES to participate in the project, 
overseas investment insurance from Nippon Export and Investment Insurance 
(NEXI) has been obtained.

(*1) The potential uranium production is an estimate, and does not 
     represent a proven recoverable reserve.