A government panel said Tuesday night that a bid by a British investment fund to boost its stake in Electric Power Development Co., better known as J-Power, could "disturb the maintenance of public order."
The conclusion by the Council on Customs, Tariff, Foreign Exchange and Other Transactions is expected to prompt the government to ask the Children's Investment Fund, or TCI, to drop or change its plan to raise its stake in the electricity wholesaler to up to 20 percent from the current 9.9 percent.
"We cannot deny the possibility that it could affect the planning, operation and maintenance of key facilities such as power transmission lines and implementation of Japan's nuclear power generation and nuclear fuel cycle policies," the panel said.