'TEPCO damages liability may be capped at $36bn'

TOKYO: A rough draft plan outlining a compensation scheme for the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident calls for capping Tokyo Electric Power's liability at 2-3.8 trillion yen($24-36 billion), the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Under the plan, which is being considered by Tokyo Electric and the government, other power utilities will be asked to contribute to a mutual aid fund that would also form part of the compensation scheme.

That fund could contribute up to 2.7 trillion yen, and power utilitilies including Tokyo Electric would contribute in proportion to the number of nuclear reactors they own, the Yomiuri said.

The government would offer support for compensation beyond what would be shouldered by the utilities, it said.