December 27 1999

Press Release Concerning the Departure Date and Vessel for the Fifth Return Shipment of Vitrified Waste from Europe to Japan

Federation of Electric Power Companies Electric Power Company's Transport Headquarters Tokyo Electric Power Company Chubu Electric Power Company Kansai Electric Power Company Chugoku Electric Power Company Kyushu Electric Power Company

The above parties announced on 2 November 1999 to release, one or two days before departure, details of the departure date, vessel name and port being used for the transport of the third shipment of vitrified waste from France to Japan. In accordance with this announcement, the relevant details are as follows: The vessel will leave port on 29 December 1999 The name of the vessel being used is "Pacific Swan" The port being used is Cherbourg, France Concerning the transport route and approximate timing of the ship's arrival in Japan, the above parties originally announced on 2 November 1999 to release such information the day after the ship sailed. For operational reasons, however, the ship has been forced to alter its route. As a result, government agencies and private-sector parties in Japan, the UK and France have decided to announce such information three days after the ship’s departure. We ask for your understanding regarding this change.

[Appendix 1]

Facilities for the Press in Cherbourg

To aid the press in their coverage at Cherbourg, COGEMA have set up a room for the media in the Hotel Mercure. The press room will open at 6 :00 AM local time on 29 December 1999.

Contact Telephone Number in France COGEMA Ms. Caroline Ciuciu (+33)2-33-02-63-22   Hotel Mercure Gare Maritime 50100 Cherbourg (+33)2-33-44-01-11

[Additional information]

Description of Vitrified Waste Canisters Height: approximately 1,340mm External diameter: approximately 430mm Volume of vitrified waste: approximately 150 litres per canister Weight: approximately 490kg per canister Canister material: stainless steel

Description of Shipment Flasks Name: TN28VT Total length: approximately 6.6m External diameter: approximately 2.4m Total weight: approximately 112 tonnes Contents: 28(or 20) vitrified waste canisters per flask Primary flask material: stainless steel, carbon steel

Description of Transport Vessel Total length: approximately 104m Width: approximately 16m Total tonnage: 5,000 tonnes Load capacity: 3,000 tonnes Vessel name: Pacific Swan Cargo: Four vitrified waste shipment flasks (containing a total of 104 canisters, 46 for Kansai Electric Power Company, 28 for Tokyo Electric Power Company and 10 each for Chubu Electric Power Company, Chugoku Electric Power Company and Kyushu Electric Power Company).