The country aims to nearly double its nuclear power capacity to 70 gigawatts (GW), comprising 5 percent of the national energy mix by 2020, the national English language newspaper China Daily reported on Wednesday.

The target was set in the country's latest revision of its energy development plans, as made in 2006, which aimed for 40 GW, the newspaper said.

But the revision is still awaiting approval from the State Council, China Daily cited another newspaper, the 21st Century Business Herald as saying.

The energy authorities would start building 8 more nuclear power plants in the next three years, with 16 reactors whose total installed capacity will surpass 10 GW, according to a quote from the National Energy Administration (NEA) sources carried by the report.

There are currently 11 nuclear reactors in operation with a combined capacity of about 9 GW, supplying more than 1 percent of the country's energy demand, according to China Daily.

The newspaper said the country would also invest 580 billion yuan (US$84.8 billion) in the power industry alone this year, citing the state broadcaster China Central Television.

China will also step up efforts to develop renewable energies such as wind and solar power, promote the mergers and acquisitions of coal-fired power plants, and upgrade the country's energy structure, said Zhang Guobao, the NEA Director, at a national energy conference held on Tuesday in Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2009)