"Large nuclear reactors have high hydrological and geological requirements and safety has always been a major concern for local residents living nearby.

"It is hard to choose the site for large nuclear reactors as they have high hydrological and geological requirements, and safety is always a major concern for local residents living in places with large nuclear stations, which see 60 to 70 years of service life," said Han Xiaoping, chief information officer of China Energy Net Consulting Co. "Small nuclear reactors, however, can provide cheap and sustainable electricity," he said.

Unlike traditional fish farming facilities, the ocean farm adopts advanced technologies including automatic fishing, hydrological monitoring, deep-sea positioning and biological light adjustment systems.

Zhang Xiangwei, head of the ministry's planning department, said flood control, water diversion, ecological remediation and hydrological monitoring are among the top concerns this year.

China Railway Design Corp carried out in-depth cooperation with universities and consulting companies in many fields, such as geological surveys, material and equipment localization, hydrological analysis and calculation, and building design.