"We have been working very hard on developing alternative sources of energy that do not emit greenhouses into the atmosphere," Bodman told a news conference after a meeting of energy ministers from Group of Eight nations.

Bodman's remarks backed a push by Russia, which holds the annual G8 presidency this year, to promote nuclear power as a means of diversifying the security of global energy supplies.

"We are hopeful of a very substantial rebirth of the global nuclear industry," Bodman said in response to a Reuters question.