#Japan #Earthquake: METI Minister Warns of Unpredictable, Large-Scale Power Blackout

From Asahi Shinbun (in Japanese, emphasis added; 2:16PM JST 3/17/2011) and other papers:

Banri Kaieda, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, released a statement to the Japanese businesses and people that a large-scale power outage may happen, and there's no way of knowing when or how big. He asked the citizens to further conserve electricity in addition to the rolling blackout.

Electricity supply in the area served by TEPCO is 33.50 million kilowatt. However the demand this morning from 8 to 9AM was 32.92 million kilowatt. Mr. Kaieda warned that there may not be enough electricity during the demand peak hours in the evening and at night. The temperature is low on March 17, and there seems to be increased electricity demand for heating.

I read somewhere that Russians had said they could possibly provide electricity to Japan from Russian Far East. The offer would be gladly accepted by the people of Japan, even if their stupendously, almost willfully, incompetent government refuses the offer (to save their face and a-s).

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