The government now wants nuclear energy to account for at least five percent of total power supply by 2020, the China Daily reported, citing Zhang Guobao, head of the new national energy bureau.

"All sides have reached the consensus that nuclear energy is an ideal option for China," Zhang was quoted as saying.

Nuclear energy currently makes up less than two percent of China's total energy, according to the paper.

It said the decision to boost the target was motivated by severe winter weather early this year, which showed the dangers of relying on coal.

As snowstorms and low temperatures caused a breakdown in key parts of China's road and rail transportation networks, many areas dependent on coal could not obtain sufficient supplies.

Coal, which accounts for nearly 70 percent of China's demand for energy, is mainly mined in the north of the country, while some of the main consumers are in the manufacturing centres in the south.

China currently has 11 nuclear power reactors, the newspaper said.

According to its energy development plan, China aims to cut the share of coal in energy consumption to 66 percent by 2010.

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