Taking Charge

Japan to Take Over Nuke Plants: Report

Will buy controlling stake in operator.

Fed up with its handling of the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear complex, Japan’s government is reportedly planning to use public funds to buy a controlling stake in its owner, Tokyo Electric Power Co. According to an unnamed official, Japan will buy up to 50 percent of the corporation, but will stop short of anything over that amount, which would effectively nationalize TEPCO. The move would allow Japan’s government to oversee the plant’s clean-up operations, which continue to deteriorate: One nuclear expert predicts that it will be a “ 100-year battle” to remove the melting fuel rods, while the resulting radiation has turned up even in the U.S. milk supply.