Mexico City, Mexico – The government should keep in mind the accident at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant and scrap its plans to build new reactors in Mexico, according to Greenpeace.

"Today we remember the tragedy in Fukushima and urge you to abandon the nuclear plans for our country," the environmental group said in a letter to Energy Secretary Jordy Herrera.

Mexico's Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant

The letter, which was given to the secretary on Monday, noted that the Energy Secretariat recently announced plans to build two new nuclear reactors in Mexico, which currently operates the Laguna Verde facility in Veracruz state.

The government’s 2012-2026 National Energy Strategy includes the possible construction of two nuclear power plants.

Nuclear power is "a costly and highly dangerous option for generating electricity, and its contribution to reducing global warming is minimal," Greenpeace said.

Abandoning nuclear energy is the "most desirable option from the standpoint of safety and protection of the environment and health," the environmental group said.

Greenpeace launched a campaign in 19 countries to inform the public of the dangers that the world’s approximately 400 active nuclear reactors pose to tens of millions of people and to mark the first anniversary of the accident in Japan.

The March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan killed 15,853 people, left 3,282 others missing and damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant, causing the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl.