Senior figures at EDF are pushing to delay final approval for the £18bn Hinkley Point nuclear reactor for up to a year as the company seeks new investors for the project.
The long-delayed scheme to build the first in a wave of nuclear power stations in the UK has been awaiting a final investment decision from the French utility company for months.
But two people involved said it could be delayed until next year.
According to one person close to the company, some directors are pushing EDF to find other investors before giving the go-ahead so that it will not have to take the full liabilities on to its balance sheet.