The Japanese government may inject between $13 billion and $19 billion into Tokyo Electric Power Co in a de facto nationalisation of the operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, Reuters cited domestic media reports as saying on Thursday. Tepco's future as an independent firm has been in doubt since an earthquake and tsunami wrecked the plant in March, triggering the world's worst nuclear crisis in 25 years and leaving it with huge compensation payments and clean-up costs. The full scale of any Tepco bailout remains unclear, with media carrying differing accounts of what is being considered. Kyodo news agency said on Thursday the total bailout could reach 3 trillion yen ($38.5 billion) over four years, with half coming from private borrowings, while the Mainichi newspaper said the government planned to inject at least $13 billion and perhaps as much as $27 billion but did not mention other fund-raising. -- SPA
