Over 10 billion yen in unpaid decontamination expenses

March 23, 2013

TEPCO owes over 10 billion yen to gov't in unpaid decontamination costs

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130323p2a00m0na010000c.html

Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) owes 10.5 billion yen to the Ministry of the Environment in unpaid expenses for decontamination of radioactive materials emanating from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, it has been learned.

TEPCO is required under a special measures law to shoulder the costs for the decontamination work. The Environment Ministry has asked the utility to pay 14.9 billion yen in decontamination-related expenses, but most of the amount remains outstanding.

"It is necessary to scrutinize whether the (ministry's) request is in accordance with the law," TEPCO was quoted as telling the ministry.

The central government has on behalf of TEPCO been paying the costs of decontamination work carried out by the central and local governments. In November last year, the Environment Ministry demanded TEPCO pay a total of 7.6 billion yen -- including 1.7 billion yen in expenses for decontamination work in specially designated areas -- but TEPCO has thus far paid only the 1.7 billion yen.

Although the ministry filed an additional payment request of 7.3 billion yen with TEPCO in February this year, the utility has paid only 2.6 billion yen and has reportedly held back payment of the remaining amount.

See : http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/03/22/national/tepco-snubs-%C2%A510-5-billion-cleanup-tab/#.UUxo5Tf1tEs