The comments by Chen Deming, a vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, came just months after China signed a deal with Australia giving it access to yellowcake from Australia, which has about 40 percent of the world's recoverable uranium reserves.

"Where are the materials? I still have no answer now and am searching for materials in other countries, including Australia," Chen said Saturday at the annual Boao Forum for Asia on the southern island of Hainan.

China plans to have 40 gigawatts of nuclear power generation capacity in place by 2020, up from about 7 gigawatts at the end of 2006. In addition, China will have a further 18 gigawatts of nuclear capacity under construction by 2020, Chen said.

"Altogether, China will develop nearly 60 gigawatts of nuclear power generation facility, and that's a very large number," said Chen.

The 60 gigawatts of nuclear capacity is roughly two-thirds of Britain's total capacity.

Local media said earlier this month that China would set up a national strategic uranium reserve as part of its five-year plan for the nuclear industry up to 2010. China's own uranium deposits, which must also provide fuel for its nuclear weapons program, are relatively limited so Beijing has been looking overseas for supplies.

Global uranium prices are now closing in on $100 a pound and could climb sharply higher.