"Nuclear power is going to be an important pillar in the electricity-mix especially in coastal areas where power demand is high," Zhang Huazhu, vice-minister in charge of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, was cited as saying by Xinhua news agency.

The official agency referred to the move as "an important shift in strategy".

China is looking to increase cooperation with other countries experienced in nuclear power generation and with foreign companies involved in the industry, the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) added in a statement.

"Nuclear energy has to be developed rapidly to meet the requirements of economic development and growing demands on energy, and to realize harmonious development of the economy, society and ecological environment," the CAEA said. No financial figures were provided, but Zhang said that "China is expected to obtain over four percent of its power supply, or 36 million kilowatts, from nuclear plants by 2020".

Nuclear-generated electricity now accounts for only about 1.4 percent of China's total power supply compared to 16 percent in developed countries.

China relies mainly on coal to fire its power stations, but bottlenecks of coal supplies and a lack of overall generating capacity have caused the worst electricity shortages in two decades this summer.

At the end of June, the State Council, or cabinet, approved a draft of China's energy development programme for 2004-2020, the country's first long-term energy policy in almost half of a century.