Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy Ltd. may provide technical assistance to Taiwan, whose efforts to build a fourth nuclear power plant have been plagued by difficulties.

Chen Yi-bin, director of the department of nuclear regulation under the Atomic Energy Council, said state-run Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) is seeking help from General Electric Co., according to sources.

Chen said that if GE agrees to assist with the troubled project, the U.S. giant would likely ask Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy Ltd., a joint venture it formed with Hitachi Ltd., to provide Japanese engineers, the sources said.