ID :
209536
Mon, 09/26/2011 - 21:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/209536
The shortlink copeid
Gov't panel projects TEPCO's compensation to top 4 tril. yen
TOKYO, Sept. 27 Kyodo - A government panel tasked with overseeing Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s financial standing has estimated so far that the utility could face more than 4 trillion yen in compensation costs related to the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, panel sources said Monday.
The third-party panel calculated the figure based on government compensation guidelines, but the amount could increase as discussions are continuing on issues such as how far the plant operator should shoulder the costs to compensate people who have voluntarily evacuated from around the radiation-leaking plant.
The estimate is expected to provide a basis for talks over Tokyo Electric's special operating plan, to be compiled as a condition for the company to seek assistance from a state-backed entity to secure funds to pay the massive amount of compensation.
The panel, headed by lawyer Kazuhiko Shimokobe, has also calculated that the utility, known as TEPCO, could avoid falling into negative net worth without raising electricity bills if it is allowed to restart nuclear reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power plant in Niigata Prefecture next summer.
But it also expected that a rise in electricity charges would become unavoidable if there are delays in restarting the reactors as the likelihood of accumulating liabilities would increase if the restart is pushed back, raising fears that the company could be crushed by debt.
The assessment, however, does not take into account the costs of decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi plant, crippled since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the sources said.
The third-party panel calculated the figure based on government compensation guidelines, but the amount could increase as discussions are continuing on issues such as how far the plant operator should shoulder the costs to compensate people who have voluntarily evacuated from around the radiation-leaking plant.
The estimate is expected to provide a basis for talks over Tokyo Electric's special operating plan, to be compiled as a condition for the company to seek assistance from a state-backed entity to secure funds to pay the massive amount of compensation.
The panel, headed by lawyer Kazuhiko Shimokobe, has also calculated that the utility, known as TEPCO, could avoid falling into negative net worth without raising electricity bills if it is allowed to restart nuclear reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power plant in Niigata Prefecture next summer.
But it also expected that a rise in electricity charges would become unavoidable if there are delays in restarting the reactors as the likelihood of accumulating liabilities would increase if the restart is pushed back, raising fears that the company could be crushed by debt.
The assessment, however, does not take into account the costs of decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi plant, crippled since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the sources said.
