With concerns that its energy shortage may transform into over capacity within the next few years reports are emerging from China that the country may delay a decision on an $8 billion contract to build four nuclear reactors.
China is now said to be considering only making part-by-part purchases, despite plans to complete a technical evaluation of potential technologies and recommendations by October and a final decision by the end of this year.
A key issue is thought to be the cost of foreign technology, leaving China considering importing only those parts of the plants that cannot be produced domestically.
China plans to invest some $49 billion in building around 30 new nuclear reactors by 2020.