The China National Nuclear Corp received the green light for the projects at a cabinet meeting on accelerating the construction of nuclear power stations using local technology, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The two projects include the second phase of the Lin'ao nuclear power plant in southern Guangdong province and the first phase of the Sanmen nuclear power project in eastern Zhejiang province, according to Xinhua.

Guangdong and Zhejiang are among the provinces that have seen the worst energy shortages so far this year as the economy has boomed and sent electricity demand rising 16 percent nationwide from 2003.

"Nuclear power generating is a kind of clean and safe way of power supply with mature technology and good flexibility," the cabinet was quoted as saying.

China has just four nuclear power plants and nuclear energy accounts for only 1.4 percent of the country's total electricity supply.

It hopes to gradually expand its capacity so that by 2020 it will make up four percent of the total.

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