The UK government is considering taking an equity stake in new nuclear power plants as part of the financing measures being put forward to try to get at least one more project completed.

The UK Treasury is looking at having “a portion of equity from the government being invested” as a way of backing nuclear energy, energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng said during discussions at the ruling Conservative Party conference.

“It would be unrealistic to say that all the finance questions have been resolved,” he said. “There is a broad strategic commitment and the way in which the finance is arrived at and categorised are questions for further debate.”

Mr Kwarteng also confirmed that an energy white paper likely to be published next month would include a broad commitment to more nuclear power, although how new plants would be paid for remained a question for further debate.