Sumitomo Corporation (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, President: Susumu Kato) has been studying the feasibility of cooperation in the field of nuclear fuel processing, jointly with The National Atomic Company Kazatomprom, The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc., and Nuclear Fuel Industries, Ltd. These companies have signed a memorandum of understanding confirming their intent to cooperate in the processing of nuclear fuel for Kansai Electric Power's nuclear power plants.

The Ulba Metallurgical Plant (a Kazatomprom-affiliated enterprise) will process uranium dioxide powder needed to produce fuel assemblies for use in Kansai Electric Power's nuclear power plants, and Sumitomo will carry out coordination including transport between these two companies.

Actualization of this plan will contribute to the diversification of Kansai Electric Power's consignees for an important process in the nuclear fuel cycle, and will also serve to strengthen the relationship between Kansai Electric Power and Kazatomprom as well as lead to increase the possibility for Kazatomprom to penetrate into the nuclear fuel market in Japan.