The government and Tokyo Electric Power Co. plan to appoint former Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Hiroya Masuda as an outside director for the ailing utility, sources said Wednesday.
The operator of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant has effectively been under government control since 2012 and a majority of its board members are now from the outside, having been brought in to improve management transparency.
Masuda has extensive knowledge of Tepco and nuclear issues, serving as a member of the decision-making board of the Nuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund, a government-backed body providing financial aid to the utility. He also leads a government panel discussing final disposal of radioactive waste.
Masuda is expected to assume the post of director following Tepco's annual shareholders' meeting in June, the sources said.