"Nuclear energy has the same security issues and dangers as it has always had so this option should be set aside, we must look towards renewable energy sources," he said in an interview with private television SIC late Tuesday.

Last week a consortium of entrepreneurs led by Portuguese businessman Patrick Monteiro de Barros unveiled a proposal to build a nuclear power plant with a capacity of 1,600 megawatts at a cost of 3.5 billion euros (4.2 billion dollars.

The reactor, which would use either European or US technology, would be entirely privately funded under the proposal which needs government approval to go ahead.

Portugal has no nuclear capacity at present, unlike neighbouring Spain which has nine nuclear reactors.

Socrates, a former environment minister, has made the development of energy from wind farms a priority.

Last week his Socialist government approved an infrastructure modernization program worth 25 billion euros which sets aside 2.5 billion euros for the development of wind energy.

Half of the funding for the entire investment plan will come from the private sector, much of it in the form of public-private partnerships.

Portugal is one of the most dependent nations on oil in the 25-member European Union. Last year oil made up 58 percent of its primary energy consumption, economy minister figures show.

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