This is in response to your editorial, “ Remember Fukushima as China pushes for safe nuclear power ” (March 11). China has reiterated its commitment to nuclear energy with almost 50 nuclear power plants in operation, more than a dozen under construction and many more in the planning phase. However, there is one major problem: nuclear power is not a sustainable way forward for China. Natural hazards, climate conditions and the geographic environment are key variables when constructing a nuclear power plant. Some planned nuclear plants are located inland, where there are limited water resources to cool down the reactor in the event of a nuclear accident. In addition, some nuclear power plants are amazingly located in seismically active zones. For instance, Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Station is located near the Tanlu seismic zone, where strong earthquakes have occurred. More importantly, no long-term planning in China has really addressed how to manage nuclear waste , which can have a lifespan that reaches into the thousands of years. Today’s concrete will store nuclear waste for no more than 100 years. The challenges facing future generations and future engineers are not insurmountable, but they are certainly dire. Despite all the hope placed in nuclear power, it has so far managed to provide just 5 per cent of the country’s electricity generation. The time is now for leading Chinese voices to call out the disappointments of nuclear power and turn the focus to where it should be – on investments in renewable energy such as solar and hydroelectric power. Wong Cheuk Lam, Yuen Long