Power cos may underwrite Japan Nuclear Fuel capital rise- Nikkei

* May underwrite expected 300-400 bln yen

* To raise funds for plant repair

Sept 3 (Reuters) -Tokyo Electric Power Co (9501.T) and nine other power providers are considering underwriting Japan Nuclear Fuel's expected 300-400 billion yen ($3.56-$4.75 billion) capital increase by, the Nikkei business daily reported.

Japan Nuclear Fuel is planning to raise funds to repair its reprocessing plant, which is intended to process spent fuel shipped from nuclear power stations, and is likely to seek assistance from the utility companies, the daily said. Japan Nuclear Fuel also said it needs more funds to build a mixed-oxide-fuel facility and invest in its uranium-enrichment plant, the paper said.

The company said the ten utilities -- Japan Atomic Power Co and the nine electric utilities with nuclear plants -- together own about 75 percent in Japan Nuclear Fuel, and will have to shoulder a greater burden, according to the daily. ($1=84.24 Yen) (Reporting by Vaishnavi Bala in Bangalore; Editing by Roshni Menon)