Mining: AREVA and Namibia strengthen their strategic partnership

Press release

NUCLEAR POWER / MINING

May 05, 2009

AREVA CEO Anne Lauvergeon and Erkki Nghimtina, Namibian Minister of Mines and Energy, today signed an industrial partnership in the presence of Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba.

This provides for the creation by the Namibian government and AREVA of a joint mining exploration company for the country’s future uranium operations.

Today’s agreement confirms AREVA’s role as a strategic partner of Namibia, and its commitment to support the government’s efforts to maximize the value of its uranium resources and continue to develop local skills through training and higher education.

Commenting on the agreement as she left the Windhoek State House, Anne Lauvergeon said she was "delighted with the trust that the Namibian government has once again placed in AREVA, having already given the group the go-ahead to mine the Trekkopje deposit and build a desalination plant. With this new scope, we will be working with the government in exploring other uranium resources in other regions. It is the decisive first step in a long partnership."