Wong shuts down Rio's nuclear power push

The federal government has quashed Rio Tinto's push for the government to consider nuclear power as a way to meet climate change targets.

Rio Tinto has reportedly told the government there are questions over the viability of renewable energy due to high costs.

That view was given in a response to a government white paper on energy.

"Rio Tinto is entitled to their view," Climate Change Minister Penny Wong said.

But she said Australia had strong conventional and renewable energy sources, including solar power, wind, wave and geothermal.

"Our focus as a government is on developing those resources," Senator Wong told reporters in Canberra today.

The government had substantial policies to drive investment in renewable energy, including the target to have 20 per cent of electricity from green sources by 2020, she said.

Environmental group Greenpeace said Rio Tinto, which owns a majority stake in one of Australia's biggest uranium producers, was protecting its own interests.

Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has also reiterated the government's prohibition on nuclear power.