The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE: SHAW) issued the following statement congratulating Southern Company for approval of its combined license (COL) from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for two new AP1000® nuclear power units at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Ga.

"Shaw congratulates Southern on this major milestone for the Vogtle project, the first new U.S. nuclear construction commercial power project in more than 30 years," said J.M. Bernhard Jr., Shaw's chairman, president and chief executive officer.

"Shaw is proud to be part of such a historic project. Not only is this milestone another step forward in continuing to provide safe, clean and reliable energy for the future, but the project also will create thousands of jobs and provide numerous long-term benefits for the Georgia community. Shaw anticipates hiring approximately 3,500 employees during construction of the new units at Vogtle, with thousands of more jobs created as a result of construction and operation of the reactors," said Mr. Bernhard.

The license for Vogtle is the first to be approved by the NRC under an improved process that combines the construction permit and operating license for a nuclear power plant. By combining the construction permit and operating license, the new licensing method provides greater regulatory efficiency and increases the predictability of the process. Receipt of the COL signifies that full construction can begin.

Featuring the world's most advanced reactor technology, the AP1000 design, the project now is authorized to begin safety-related construction. The AP1000 technology received final design certification from the NRC in December 2011.

Shaw and Westinghouse currently are building four new nuclear power units in the United States, with two units each at Plant Vogtle and South Carolina Electric & Gas' V.C. Summer Nuclear Generating Station, and with two more units under contract for Progress Energy in Florida. These projects represent the first nuclear power new-build contracts awarded in nearly 30 years. Shaw also is providing engineering, procurement, commissioning, information management and project management services for four AP1000 nuclear units currently under construction in China.

The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE:SHAW) is a leading global provider of engineering, construction, technology, fabrication, remediation and support services for clients in the energy, chemicals, environmental, infrastructure and emergency response industries. A Fortune 500 company with fiscal year 2011 annual revenues of $5.9 billion, Shaw has approximately 27,000 employees around the world and is a power sector industry leader according to Engineering News-Record's list of Top 500 Design Firms. For more information, please visit Shaw's website at www.shawgrp.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information about our current and future prospects and our operations and financial results, which are based on currently available information. The forward-looking statements include assumptions about our operations, such as cost controls and market conditions, that may not be realized. Actual future results and financial performance could vary significantly from those anticipated in such statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, the occurrence of certain events or otherwise.

Among the factors that could cause future events or transactions to differ from those we expect are those risks discussed under Item 1A "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 2011, and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Please read our "Risk Factors" and other cautionary statements contained in these filings.

As a result of these risks and others, actual results could vary significantly from those anticipated in this press release, and our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

The Shaw Group Inc.
Media and Financial Contact:
Gentry Brann, 225-987-7372
gentry.brann@shawgrp.com