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NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 21, 2004

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Cluff Lake Receives both a Decommissioning Licence and ISO 14001 Certification

Northern Saskatchewan’s Cluff Lake uranium mine has just achieved two important milestones that support its plans for a state-of-the-art decommissioning program.

On July 20, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission granted a decommissioning licence for Cluff Lake, which is owned and operated by AREVA subsidiary COGEMA Resources. Following five years of environmental assessment, public discussions and regulatory review, the licence signals the first phase of efforts to return the Cluff Lake site to a natural state. Contracts will now be issued for activities such as covering and sealing the tailings area, and dismantling the mill. This will be followed by several years of monitoring to ensure the environment is being protected.

Cluff Lake has also achieved ISO 14001 environmental management certification. This is in addition to other ISO 14001 certifications already granted to COGEMA Resources for its McClean Lake operation in 2000 and its Saskatchewan exploration activities in 2004. An independent outside authority, therefore, certifies that every aspect of the company’s Saskatchewan operations – from initial exploration, through mining, milling and now decommissioning – meets this international standard. Recognized in 90 countries, ISO 14001 certification verifies that environmental management systems used by COGEMA Resources are strictly monitored and conform to rigorous international standards.

“The dual accomplishments of the decommissioning licence plus the ISO certification mean we are beginning the final chapter in the remarkable story of one of the most successful uranium mines in Canadian history,” Tim Gitzel, Chairman of COGEMA Resources and Executive Vice President of AREVA's Mining Business Unit, said today. “After 22 years of providing jobs and economic activity to Saskatchewan, and especially residents of northern Saskatchewan, Cluff Lake will return to a safe, natural state. We are demonstrating uranium mining can work in harmony with the economy and the environment.”

The Cluff Lake operation received a number of awards during its life, including being recognized in 1999 and 2002 by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum as the safest metal mine in all of Canada. Located about 700 kilometres north of Saskatoon, production at the Cluff Lake mine and mill concluded in late 2002, after yielding an impressive 62 million pounds of uranium concentrates.

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With manufacturing facilities in over 40 countries and a sales network in over 100, AREVA offers customers technological solutions for nuclear power generation and electricity transmission and distribution. The group also provides interconnect systems to the telecommunications, computer and automotive markets. These businesses engage AREVA’s 70,000 employees in the 21st century’s greatest challenges: making energy and communication resources available to all, protecting the planet, and acting responsibly towards future generations.

AREVA subsidiary COGEMA Resources is the operator and majority owner of the McClean Lake uranium operation located about 700 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. The company also owns and operates the Cluff Lake mine, operates and majority owns the Midwest uranium project, and owns shares of the Cigar Lake, McArthur River and Key Lake uranium mines. About half of the workers at McClean Lake are residents of northern Saskatchewan.