ID :
209635
Tue, 09/27/2011 - 09:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/209635
The shortlink copeid
Fukushima N-Accident Compensation Costs Put at 3-4 T. Yen
Tokyo, Sept. 27 (Jiji Press)--A Japanese panel estimates that 3 trillion to 4 trillion yen will be needed to cover the compensation for the damage of the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant, informed sources said Tuesday.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. <9501>, the operator of the crippled plant, will likely face fund shortages unless it can raise power rates drastically or restart its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, where most reactors are being halted, the sources added.
The third-party panel probing TEPCO's business management compiled financial estimates over the coming 10 years based on multiple scenarios for the margins of possible power rate hikes and the operational conditions of TEPCO nuclear plants.
The estimates show that if the firm remains unable to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant or introduce a drastic rate hike, TEPCO will face fund shortages, or even fall into negative net worth, the sources said.
The compensation costs will balloon further if it takes longer than currently expected to contain the nuclear crisis and realize full homecomings of disaster-affected residents.
Furthermore, the expenses to clean up contaminated areas and decommission damaged reactors remain uncertain.
The government may need to consider drastic support measures for TEPCO, such as capital infusion.
In a related move, Goshi Hosono, minister for nuclear disaster management, told a news conference that TEPCO should keep paying compensation to disaster victims until they become able to return home to restart their lives there.
END
Tokyo Electric Power Co. <9501>, the operator of the crippled plant, will likely face fund shortages unless it can raise power rates drastically or restart its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, where most reactors are being halted, the sources added.
The third-party panel probing TEPCO's business management compiled financial estimates over the coming 10 years based on multiple scenarios for the margins of possible power rate hikes and the operational conditions of TEPCO nuclear plants.
The estimates show that if the firm remains unable to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant or introduce a drastic rate hike, TEPCO will face fund shortages, or even fall into negative net worth, the sources said.
The compensation costs will balloon further if it takes longer than currently expected to contain the nuclear crisis and realize full homecomings of disaster-affected residents.
Furthermore, the expenses to clean up contaminated areas and decommission damaged reactors remain uncertain.
The government may need to consider drastic support measures for TEPCO, such as capital infusion.
In a related move, Goshi Hosono, minister for nuclear disaster management, told a news conference that TEPCO should keep paying compensation to disaster victims until they become able to return home to restart their lives there.
END
