Britain to build more nuclear power plants

LONDON, July 14 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says his government will place no limit on the number of nuclear power plants that can be built by private companies.

Brown plans to fast track the construction of at least eight nuclear power stations to cut Britain's dependence on foreign oil following its dramatic rise in price, The Independent reported Monday.

The prime minister said he fears Britain could face an energy supply crisis in the future if it fails to step up its nuclear program along with increasing renewable energy sources.

At a meeting in Paris Sunday, Brown outlined his vision of a "post-oil economy," calling for a "renaissance of nuclear power" and "massive expansion" of renewable energy.

Currently Britain's 10 nuclear power stations provide about 20 percent of the nation's electricity.

Most of the new power stations are expected to be built near existing sites, the newspaper says.