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Seni, Croatia, September 21 (Xinhua) - Chinese enterprise wind power projects in Croatia benefit local people's livelihoods

Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Xuejun

Since its official operation in December 2021, the Seni wind power project in Croatia, invested and constructed by Chinese enterprises, has always adhered to localized management. It not only brings clean energy to the local area, but also creates many employment opportunities, bringing tangible benefits to the local people.

The Seni wind power project was invested and constructed by Northern International Cooperation Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China North Industries Co., Ltd., and construction began in November 2018.

Since the start of the project, Tosca Croatia has been providing legal consulting services to Northern International. Company manager Josip Toshi ć recently stated in an interview with reporters that more than 40 Croatian companies have participated in the project construction process. During the peak construction period, there are nearly 500 engineering and technical personnel on the project site every day, of which more than half are local employees. The green electricity provided by the project every year can meet the electricity needs of at least 100000 households.

Toshi ć stated that several Croatian companies involved in the Seni wind power project, including Tosca, have not only achieved economic benefits but also gained valuable experience, enhancing their competitiveness in the Croatian and even European markets. "Northern International has done a great thing for the local people of Seni and also for Croatia."

It is understood that since the start of the Seni wind power project, more than 60 Croatian employees have worked at the North International Zagreb branch. At present, the company still has 25 local employees, exceeding the number of Chinese employees.

Carmen Simcich, who recently joined, told reporters that she didn't expect to win out of over 200 job seekers and become a member of Northern International. She felt honored to have the job she wanted. Local employee Tihana Altman said she is very happy to be a member of the Seni wind power project. She admires the professional level and dedication of her Chinese colleagues and has learned a lot from them.

During a recent interview with reporters, Seni Mayor Yuricha Tomlyanovi ć and Seni Tourism Director Victor Samarzia stated that the Chinese team of the Seni wind power project actively fulfills corporate social responsibility, integrates into the local community, and has gained a good reputation in the local area.

Liu Zhen, the project manager of Seni Wind Power, said that the project will introduce Chinese power equipment and technical personnel into the EU market, and carry out extensive cooperation with local companies in equipment supply, transportation, construction, wind turbine hoisting, and grid connection testing. As of the end of August 2023, the project has sold a total of 676 million kilowatt hours of electricity online, achieving a revenue of 132 million euros and achieving good economic benefits.

Liu Zhen said that teachers and students from the Rijeka Institute of Electrical Technology in Croatia, as well as representatives of the Croatian New Energy Association, have observed Chinese new energy equipment on site and learned from the systematic management experience of Chinese engineering companies.

Yang Xiaoqing, secretary of the Party Committee of China Northern Industry Co., Ltd., who is visiting Senegal, said that Northern International attaches great importance to energy conservation, emission reduction and green development in the construction of the "the Belt and Road" project. The Seni wind power project is a typical project of Northern International in implementing the green "the Belt and Road", which has contributed to Croatia's increasing renewable energy power generation, reducing power imports and promoting low-carbon development.