The British government has published its plans for beefing up nuclear power generation to boost the country's energy independence.

The new strategy comes amid a post-COVID recovery of demand and soaring energy prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Britain will build as many as eight nuclear reactors by 2030. It hopes to source up to 25 percent of its energy needs from nuclear power by 2050.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says UK citizens will never again subject to the vagaries of global oil or gas prices and cannot be subject to blackmail from people such as Vladimir Putin.

The strategy also aims to increase production from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has spurred debate on nuclear energy in Europe. Germany has stuck to its plan to take all nuclear plants offline by yearend. France plans to build at least six new reactors to help it achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.