Major blackout possible in Tokyo

An unexpected, large-scale power outage is possible in Tokyo and surrounding areas on Thursday evening if power demand exceeds that of this morning, Japan's trade minister said.

Trade minister Banri Kaieda said demand this morning almost reached the availanle capacity of Tokyo Electric Power Co , adding that electricity demand usually peaks in the evening or early night.

A devastating quake and tsunami hit the northeast coast of Japan last week, crippling TEPCO's Daiichi nuclear facility where explosions and radiation leaks have led thousands of people to evacuate the area, cut electricity supplies and halted industrial operations in wide areas in northern Japan.

About 850,000 households in the north were still without electricity in near-freezing weather, Tohuku Electric Power Co. said, and the government said at least 1.5 million households lack running water.

Kaieda told reporters that the government has asked for an increase in the run rate at oil refineries in west Japan to 95 percent or more, while asking for a reduction in gasoline stocks in west Japan for the next three days, to help boost supplies and stabilise supply/demand balances.

The trade minister also said the government has asked the oil industry to help adjust the supply/demand balance in the market.

TEPCO, Japan's largest utility, said earlier this week it may impose a rolling blackout during an upcoming three-day weekend for Tokyo and the nine prefectures it serves.