Japan mulls nationalising Fukushima nuclear plant company

[marmar]

from the Guardian UK:




Japan's government is reportedly ready to consider nationalising the operator of the crippled power plant at the centre of the worst nuclear accident in the country's history.

News that the state could take a majority stake in the Tokyo Electric Power company (Tepco) came after nuclear safety officials confirmed traces of plutonium had been found in soil in five locations in the Fukushima Daiichi atomic complex.

The prime minister, Naoto Kan, fought off criticism of his handling of the crisis, insisting to MPs that a state of "maximum alert" would be maintained until the power plant had been made safe.

Doubts over the future of Tepco, the largest power company in Asia, has coincided with mounting criticism of its handling of the world's worst nuclear emergency since Chernobyl. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/29/japan-mulls-nationalising-fukushima-company

[CanonRay]

1. Sneaky way to put all the costs on the taxpayers

IMHO

[jtrockville]

2. Privatize the profit, socialize the risk.

We can't expect poor poor TEPCO to clean up their own mess just because their executives pocketed the profit from these dangerous reactors over the last few decades.

[SoCalDem]

3. Exactly....bastards

They made a HUGE mess, that may be irreparable, and may kill lots of people in a lingering, agonizing way...and now they want the nation to "take over"..

They should be forced out of business completely, forfeit any and all assets, and have their management jailed..

I'm still pissed that IAEA is not the default "boss" immediately after any nuclear accident.