DHAKA: The operator of Japan`s wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant, under fire to put right repeated contamination mishaps, promised on Tuesday to draft in extra workers and improve equipment as part of plans to make the site safe and keep the company solvent.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, or Tepco, has been reprimanded twice in as many months by Japan’s nuclear regulator for mismanagement in a cleanup operation more than two and a half years after the Fukushima Daiichi plant was struck by an earthquake and tsunami.

Though the company has posted more than US$27 billion in net losses since the disaster, it has received pledges of financing from banks totalling US$5.9 billion.

Much of that, however, is contingent on Tepco securing the regulator’s approval to restart two of seven reactors at another of its plants, the world’s largest nuclear plant, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 2053 HRS, OCT 15, 2013
RoR/JCK