Hokuriku to sue Hitachi for $214 mln over turbine

TOKYO, May 25 (Reuters) - Japan's Hokuriku Electric Power Co (9505.T) said it would sue Hitachi Ltd (6501.T), seeking 20.2 billion yen ($214 million) in compensation after the failure of a Hitachi-made turbine at the utility's nuclear plant, plus late payment charges. The two companies had yet to agree on compensation for higher oil and fuel costs at Hokuriku, after turbine damage in July 2006 forced the utility to make its thermal plants work harder to make up for the output shortfall. (Reporting by Mayumi Negishi)