Special Draft: Leveraging Clean Energy for Green Development - China Africa Cooperation to Create Future Energy | China | Leveraging

Kigali, August 22 (Xinhua) - Special Release: Leveraging Clean Energy for Green Development - China Africa Cooperation for a Better Future

Xinhua News Agency reporter

The 15th BRICS Leaders Meeting will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, with the theme of "BRICS and Africa: Deepening Partnership, Promoting Mutual Growth, Achieving Sustainable Development, and Strengthening Inclusive Multilateralism.". In recent years, China and African countries have continuously strengthened energy cooperation, effectively promoting Africa's green and low-carbon transformation and sustainable development while ensuring energy supply security, and achieving a series of cooperation results.

This is the wind turbine of Longyuan South Africa's De'a wind power project, filmed on August 10th in De'a Town, North Cape Province, South Africa.

Collaborate to build a "green engine"

In recent years, China has attached great importance to cooperation with African countries in the field of clean energy, and has implemented hundreds of clean energy power generation and grid projects in Africa. South Africa's De Ah wind power plant, Kenya's Garissa photovoltaic power plant, Rwanda's Nabalonge River 2 hydropower station, and others have become iconic projects for the development of clean energy in the region.

In South Africa, the De Ah wind power project undertaken by a Chinese enterprise was connected to the grid for power generation in 2017, with a total installed capacity of 244500 kilowatts. The project construction and operation effectively alleviate the shortage of electricity supply in South Africa, effectively promote local economic development, and improve local ecological environment protection. Senior South African diplomat Glebler said that this project is changing South Africa's energy structure.

In Kenya, the largest photovoltaic power station in East Africa built by a Chinese enterprise, the Garissa 50 MW photovoltaic power station, was officially put into operation in 2019. This power station can meet the electricity needs of over 380000 people in 70000 households, effectively alleviating the local power shortage. Kenyan energy expert Gozi said that this project has improved the lives of people in northern Kenya, allowing Kenya to develop renewable energy such as solar energy "from dreams to reality.".

In Rwanda, the successful closure of the Nabalonge River No. 2 hydropower station project undertaken by a Chinese enterprise in July marked the full commencement of the main project of the hydropower station. After the completion of this large-scale multifunctional comprehensive water conservancy and hydropower development project, it will greatly alleviate the country's electricity shortage situation and reduce Rwanda's dependence on non renewable energy. The Governor of the Northern Province of Rwanda, Nila Rugueiro, stated that the project will effectively drive local economic development and improve the well-being of the Rwandan people.

In recent years, Chinese enterprises and research institutions, including the Global Energy Internet Development Cooperation Organization, have actively provided advisory services to African regional organizations, governments and enterprises, carried out research on the development planning of energy, power and industrial parks, trained talents in related fields, and strengthened the basic capacity of African countries for clean energy development.

On May 26th, construction workers inspected the power generation facilities at the construction site of the Soxian Geothermal Power Station project located in Nakuru, Kenya.

Assist in the transformation of green energy

In the global energy sector, China continues to help other developing countries eliminate energy poverty and narrow the gap in energy accessibility by sharing products, technologies, and experiences.

In 2021, Kenya launched geothermal development in Menangai, with a planned installed power generation capacity of 105 megawatts for the first phase. Zhejiang Kaishan Group in China has won the general contract for the first 35 MW geothermal power plant in Phase I - Suoxian Geothermal Power Station. The project started construction in January 2021 and was put into operation for power transmission at the end of June this year. Suoxian Geothermal Power Station is the first geothermal power station in Africa to be independently completed by a Chinese enterprise from design, product production, construction, and commissioning. "100% Chinese technology" has attracted much attention to this geothermal power station.

Moses Kachumo, a project engineer at Kenya Geothermal Development Company, believes that the Soxian Geothermal Power Station is of great demonstration significance. Chinese equipment and construction quality have shown stable performance during the operation phase, and Kenya's geothermal power generation field will apply more Chinese engineering technology and financial models to accelerate energy transformation.

In the field of renewable energy, China's rich experience and advanced technology have left a deep impression on George Aruru, Chairman of the Kenya Electricity Industry Association. He pointed out that Kenya has abundant renewable energy, and cooperation between the two sides will inject momentum into the green development of Kenya and even Africa.

Moreover, China actively promotes the application of Chinese standards in the field of renewable energy. During the construction process of the Nabalonge River No.2 hydropower station project in Rwanda, the construction of soft rock dams on this foundation is a world-class challenge due to the fact that the dam foundation of the hydropower station belongs to a muddy soft foundation. To solve the problem of dam foundation treatment, the project team collaborated with multiple domestic scientific research units in China to conduct research and ultimately determine the treatment plan. During this process, Chinese standards, especially Chinese material standards, have been recognized by relevant parties and adopted in certain technical aspects.

Felix, General Manager of Rwanda Energy Development Co., Ltd., stated in an interview that China has rich experience in hydropower station construction. The equipment used in the Nabalonge River No.2 hydropower station project is imported from China, and many Chinese standards have been adopted during the project construction process. He looks forward to more Chinese enterprises cooperating with the Lu side.

This is a photo taken on December 13, 2019 at the Garissa Photovoltaic Power Station in Kenya.

Broad prospects for energy cooperation

Africa has abundant renewable energy sources such as hydropower, solar energy, and wind energy, but the current development ratio is not high.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa believes that renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro are viable alternative sources of energy to meet the rapidly growing electricity demand on the African continent. As an African country that developed solar energy earlier, Kenya has launched a national renewable energy plan. According to Kenya's 2030 vision, the country will achieve 100% clean energy power generation by 2030, with geothermal power generating an installed capacity of 1600 megawatts, accounting for 60% of the country's electricity generation.

Liu Yichao, the manager of the Kalisa Solar Energy Project at China Jiangxi International Economic and Technological Cooperation Co., Ltd. in Kenya, is full of confidence in the cooperation between China and Africa in the photovoltaic industry. He said that photovoltaic power station projects have a short construction period, are green and environmentally friendly, have a large installed capacity, and can immediately solve the local electricity shortage problem. Helping African countries develop green energy and benefiting African people is one of the goals of Chinese companies entering Africa.

Now, under the framework of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation, China and Africa are strengthening development strategy docking and policy coordination, establishing a new era China Africa strategic partnership to address climate change, and working together to build a new era China Africa community with a shared future.

Kenyan international relations expert Kavins Adhill believes that China has always cooperated side by side with African countries and has become a major partner in the development of solar and wind energy on the African continent. China is not only promoting a "green revolution" in its own energy sector, but Chinese capital, technology, and knowledge are also helping the African continent accelerate the process of achieving carbon neutrality. We look forward to more practical cooperation between Africa and China on clean energy issues.