Construction of nuke plants may resume

China will resume the construction of nuclear power plants halted in the aftermath of Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant accident last year, a former senior official said during the plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee (CPPCC) on Wednesday.

Wang Yuqing, former director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration and deputy director of the Committee on Population, Resources and Environment of the CPPCC National Committee, said 10 approved nuclear power plants will be granted permission to begin construction soon "as a comprehensive plan on nuclear safety had been submitted to the State Council."

The central government set a goal of having China obtain 11.4 percent of its energy from non-fossil fuel by the end of 2015, as opposed to 8 percent now. By 2020, the country is to get 15 percent of its energy from non-fossil fuel.