Washington Group International Provides Chinese Nuclear Power Company With Project Management Training Services

Washington Group International Provides Chinese Nuclear Power Company With Project Management Training Services

December 22, 2006

    BOISE, Idaho and SHANGHAI, China, Dec. 22
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- 
Washington Group International (Nasdaq: WGII) announced
today that it has 
been selected by Sanmen Nuclear Power Company (SMNPC) to
provide project 
management training services in China and the United
States.  SMNPC is 
preparing to construct its first two nuclear units at a
seacoast site in 
Sanmen in the Zhejiang province.

    The contract calls for Washington Group to conduct a
series of workshops 
to provide program management training using processes,
procedures, and 
training materials, which have been successfully employed
on a variety of 
Washington Group projects throughout the world. 

    Washington Group conducted the first workshop for SMNPC
in early 
December.  More than 65 SMNPC employees working in project
management, 
project controls, human resources, contracts, procurement,
estimating, 
quality assurance/quality control, information technology,
engineering, and 
plant operations participated in the workshop.  The
training involved 
everything from pre-project planning to project controls
and estimating to 
employee relations.

    "It is highly appreciated that Washington Group
has attached importance 
to this training program," stated Mr. Gu Jun, deputy
general manager of 
SMNPC.  "We believe both parties will take this event
as the remarkable 
beginning of the continuing cooperation between SMNPC and
Washington Group 
International."

    Lou Pardi, president of Washington Group's Power
Business Unit, 
said: "SMNPC was looking for a company to share
industry best practices with 
an emphasis on project management.  We will impart lessons
learned on a 
variety of issues critical to on-time and on-budget
performance. 

    "Our selection for this important assignment
illustrates our strong 
reputation and capabilities in nuclear services and project
management, and 
we are committed to assisting SMNPC in developing a
world-class program 
management capability."

    Washington Group International provides services
addressing the full 
nuclear lifecycle including providing licensing,
engineering, design, 
procurement, construction, startup, maintenance and
modification, 
decommissioning, and waste storage services for nuclear
power.  Washington 
Group has provided services to virtually every U.S. nuclear
power plant and 
is the engineer or constructor of record for 49 nuclear
units worldwide.  

    About Washington Group International

    Washington Group International (Nasdaq: WGII) provides
the talent, 
innovation, and proven performance to deliver integrated
engineering, 
construction, and management solutions for businesses and
governments 
worldwide.  With more than $3 billion in annual revenue,
the company has 
approximately 25,000 people at work around the world
providing solutions in 
power, environmental management, defense, oil and gas
processing, mining, 
industrial facilities, transportation, and water resources.
 For more 
information, visit http://www.wgint.com . 

    Forward-looking Statements

    This news release contains forward-looking statements
within the meaning 
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
which are identified 
by the use of forward-looking terminology such as may,
will, could, should, 
expect, anticipate, intend, plan, estimate, or continue or
the negative 
thereof or other variations thereof.  Each forward-looking
statement, 
including, without limitation, any financial guidance,
speaks only as of the 
date on which it is made, and Washington Group undertakes
no obligation to 
update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or
circumstances after 
the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence
of anticipated or 
unanticipated events or circumstances.  The forward-looking
statements are 
necessarily based on assumptions and estimates of
management and are 
inherently subject to various risks and uncertainties. 
Actual results may 
vary materially as a result of changes or developments in
social, economic, 
business, market, legal, and regulatory circumstances or
conditions, both 
domestically and globally, as well as due to actions by
customers, clients, 
suppliers, business partners, or government bodies. 
Performance is subject 
to numerous factors, including demand for new power
generation and for 
modification of existing power facilities, public sector
funding, demand for 
extractive resources, capital spending plans of customers,
and spending 
levels and priorities of the U.S., state and other
governments.  Results may 
also vary as a result of difficulties or delays experienced
in the execution 
of contracts or implementation of strategic initiatives. 
For additional 
risks and uncertainties impacting the forward-looking
statements contained in 
this news release, please see "Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Information" 
and "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Washington Group's
annual report on Form 10-K 
for fiscal year 2005.


    For more information, please contact:

     Jerry Holloway (Media)
     Washington Group International
     Tel:   [phone]

     Laurie Spiegelberg (Media)
     Washington Group International
     Tel:   [phone]

     Earl Ward (Investors)
     Washington Group International
     Tel:   [phone]


SOURCE  Washington Group International