Tokyo Electric Power Co. has assured the government it will proceed with its new nuclear plant projects as planned, despite postponing construction of other power plants, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Takeo Hiranuma said Friday.

Hiranuma told a news conference that Japan's largest power company had informed his ministry that its plan to freeze construction of new power plants for three to five years will not cover nuclear power projects.

Tepco said Thursday it will re-examine its plan to build 27 new plants at 12 power stations, including four nuclear reactors in Fukushima and Aomori prefectures, as electricity demand is slack.

The utility said it will identify the projects to be frozen in a power supply program for fiscal 2001, due to be released in late March. It avoided specifying, however, whether nuclear power projects will be affected by its proposals.

Apart from Tepco's plan to build four new reactors, other electric power suppliers aim to construct nine additional reactors by 2010.

While throwing his weight behind Tepco's plan, Hiranuma said electricity must be supplied in a stable manner.

Among the projects to be frozen are a coal-fired thermal power station in Ibaraki Prefecture and a hydroelectric power plant in Yamanashi Prefecture.

Tepco said it will freeze some projects for more than five years but said two liquefied natural gas power stations -- one in Tokyo and one in Chiba Prefecture -- will be completed in the summer and begin operating as scheduled.