BEIJING - China is considering construction of offshore nuclear power plants, but only under completely safe conditions, a senior nuclear official confirmed Wednesday.

The country will conduct a "careful and scientific" feasibility review before it makes the decision, said Xu Dazhe, director of the China Atomic Energy Authority, at a press conference.

As a developing country, China has a large need of energy but is under environmental stress, he said, adding that the country must fully exploit its maritime resources.

Xu stressed that China will stick to the safe and peaceful use of nuclear power and that the development of maritime resources in its waters will benefit people in the area.

Currently China has 30 nuclear power generating units with a capacity of 28 million gw and another 24 units are under construction, all of which are on land.