China's top energy regulator on Thursday announced 164 industry standards, about half of which are related to nuclear power, a signal that the country will support its nuclear sector with new approvals for plants.

The National Energy Administration is putting an emphasis on the nuclear industry with detailed standards for upstream and downstream segments such as primary coolant pumps, a key reactor component, as well as instrument and control systems.

Experts said the standards pertain to the third-generation nuclear power technology used in the Westinghouse Electric Co's AP1000 and the domestically developed CAP1400.