Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA) has highly valued biodiversity conservation and is building environmentally-friendly projects under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
A bird's-eye view of the Nam Ou River Cascade Hydropower Project in Laos [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Insisting "plan first"
In the 1990s, well-known consultative companies around the world gathered in Laos and proposed plans on hydropower development of the entire Nam Ou River. POWERCHINA won the developments rights with the two phases plan, intending to realize joint operation of the cascade hydropower stations, avoid large-scale resettlement of local people, limit occupation of the farmland and the forestry and reduce impact to the ecological environment.
Thanks to the detailed and considerate plan, the hydropower project is now providing continuous and reliable clean energy while people are enjoying the green and clean environment in affected areas.
On vast grassland under the foot of the Mount Kilimanjaro stretches the Road Annuity Lot32 Project, running through the Chala Lake WildLife Reserve in Taveta District. It is the first overseas PPP project financed by POWERCHINA.
In order to avoid any engineering impact to the wildlife in the lake, POWERCHINA actively responded to the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE)'s initiative on biodiversity conservation and changed the original road construction plans to avoid impacting the reserve.
Promoting green construction
POWERCHINA was responsible for the largest section of the flood control project in Wroclaw, Poland. During construction of the project, the company has made great efforts to protect the birds, amphibian, insects, fishes and plants living in the affected areas.
The company invited professional animal and plant environmental protection companies and set up an expert team involving socialists, entomologists, ichthyologists, herpetologists and birdmen and specially built a cascade passage for the fish in the river.
Upon operation, the project not only plays a key role in local flood control and water storage, but also contributes to local biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.
As a pilot project developed by POWERCHINA in renewable energy field in a developed country, the Wild Cattle Hill Wind Farm Project in Tasmania, Australia, has adopted multiple environmental protection measures such as animal and plant protection and noise reduction since the beginning of the project, aiming to realize a harmonious co-existence of the wind turbines and the nature.
A photo of local people and wild animals living in affected areas of the Wild Cattle Hill Wind Farm Project in Tasmania, Australia [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The company also installed the world's most advanced accipiter monitoring and protection system to observe, alert and protect the wedge-tailed eagles, an endangered species of birds. The system started service four months before the operation of the wind turbines.
POWERCHINA has promoted green engineering, developed circular economy and protected the endangered animals and plants. It adheres to the Convention on Biological Diversity, aiming to boost economic development while protecting the environment.
Pursuing sustainable development
As the largest project invested by the Bengkulu government in Indonesia, the Bengkulu Power Plant has driven local economic development and contributed to local employment.
During construction and operation of the project, POWERCHINA's staff members at the plant worked together with local public service organizations and made efforts to protect marine lives, like turtles.
The head of the local bureau of marine and fisheries affirmed POWERHINA's efforts in turtle protection and said that the efforts had contributed to local biodiversity conservation, promoted sustainable economic development and ecological civilization construction.
The Kamchay Hydropower Station in Cambodia was put into operation in late 2011. During its 10-year operation, POWERCHINA has built a rare tree nursery covering more than 1,000 square meters and restored the ecological environment in affected areas through tree plantation and releasing fries and shrimp seeds in the river.
In Laos, POWERCHINA has built several animal habitat reserves, released fries and plant forest to improve local environment at the Nam Ou River Cascade Hydropower Project.
Meanwhile, the company joined hands with local government to launch upgrading and improvement projects, which includes providing multiple kinds of economic crops like jackfruit, banana, rubber and fructus amomi, and livestock such as cattle, sheep and pigs to improve local people’s income.
POWERCHINA has been giving Chinese intelligence, solutions and efforts to the global biodiversity conservation.
(Executive editor: Xie Yunxiao)
