The European Commission is assessing the planned support by the United Kingdom's government for a new UK nuclear power plant, which has attracted Chinese interest, a spokesman at the EC said.

The move may prevent Chinese nuclear companies from taking a stake in the massive project, industry insiders said.

"The commission has been assessing the UK plans to support nuclear power on the basis of a notification by the UK authorities," said Antoine Colombani, spokesman for competition policy and for EC's Vice-President Joaquin Almunia.