Consideration of Nationalizing TEPCO

Nationalization of Tepco seen as possibility | The Japan Times Online

"Tepco is expected to face a huge damages bill in line with a law on compensation over nuclear plant accidents, but it remains unclear whether it will have the financial capacity to pay it. "Since the government has been promoting nuclear energy as official policy, it is necessary for it to ultimately take responsibility," Genba [national policy minister] said, indicating the government will step in to cover expenses that can't be handled by the utility."

A second article from the same site might strengthen the nationalization argument:


Ideas floated to contain radiation | The Japan Times Online


At an afternoon news conference, Tokyo Electric Power Co. Chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata, appearing for the first time, said although it will probably be hard to bring tankers near the reactors, "if there are good ideas, we would like to examine them."
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In a related development the same day, Tepco said its president, Masataka Shimizu, who hasn't appeared since March 13, was hospitalized Tuesday for hypertension and dizziness while tackling the crisis