Chinese enterprises undertake the construction of the Sanghe II hydropower station - providing assistance for Cambodia's green development

At nightfall in Shangding, Cambodia, the rotation team of China's Huaneng Sanghe II Hydropower Station set off from the project camp to the hydropower plant area to take over the night shift work. On the main stream of the Sang River, a continuous stream of clean electricity is transmitted from this hydropower station to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, bringing light to thousands of households.

The Sanghe II Hydropower Station, with the longest dam in Asia, is the largest clean energy project in Cambodia at present, and is also a model of high-quality green energy cooperation between China and Cambodia to jointly build the "the Belt and Road".

Stable power supply brings new opportunities for development

Our task is not only to generate electricity, but also to ensure the stable operation of Cambodia's power grid, "said Deng Yulin, Deputy General Manager of Sanghe Second level Hydropower Co., Ltd., who is responsible for the operation of the hydropower station in the central control room

Cambodia has abundant water resources, but due to limited development capacity, it faces the problem of insufficient power supply all year round. The construction of the Sanghe Second level Hydropower Station officially started in 2013 and was completed in 2018, achieving the commissioning and power generation of all units. The hydropower station has an average annual power generation of 1.97 billion kilowatt hours, which can meet the electricity needs of about 2.6 million people every year.

After the completion of the hydropower station, the lives of the surrounding residents will become more colorful, "said Cambodian tour guide Jin Zilong, who often travels between Phnom Penh and Shangding. In the past, there were few lights on the roadside when the car drove out of Phnom Penh, but now the night markets in small towns along the way are brightly lit and very lively. On weekends, the town also holds night celebrations.

In the central province of Kampong Cham in Cambodia, Cambodian entrepreneur and investor Heng Qifu'an is inspecting the construction of an agricultural product processing plant. Clean and green electricity brings new opportunities for industrial development to Cambodia, "said Heng Qifu'an. Through localized processing, the added value and competitiveness of Cambodian agricultural products will be further enhanced.

Working here, we feel both a heavy sense of responsibility and a sense of achievement, "said Deng Yulin. In the years since the hydropower station was put into operation, we have seen new changes in the local economic development everywhere.

Villagers transition from fishing for a living to fishing for pleasure

Sleige Village is a new home for immigrants in the reservoir area of the Sang River Second level Hydropower Station. After coming here, our lives have become better and better! "Said the villager Cohen Pai.

The village of Sleger in the past was almost isolated from the outside world, and people lived in poverty. During the construction of the Sanghe Second level Hydropower Station, many villagers found jobs on the project and their income increased significantly. As the relocation plan for the hydropower station continues, villagers have moved into brand new high-rise buildings and been allocated land. After the completion of the hydropower station, a new road will lead directly to Sleger Village, making it much easier for villagers to communicate with the outside world. In the fields, there are increasingly more cash crops such as cashews, bananas, mangoes, etc.

When people earn money, they always buy new home appliances, "Cohen said. The newly built high-rise buildings have electricity, and many families have purchased refrigerators, televisions, air conditioners, and so on.

During the construction of the Sanghe Second level Hydropower Station, China Huaneng integrated Chinese style assistance experience into the immigration project and completed the construction of three new immigrant villages. 840 households and 3690 immigrants in the surrounding areas were relocated as a whole, and schools, health clinics, temples, and police stations were also built in the new villages. New houses are divided into two types: wooden houses and brick and concrete houses, fully respecting everyone's wishes and meeting their living and production needs.

On the right bank of the dam crest of the hydropower station, following the steps of the auxiliary dam, a clear small river winds through the forest, which is a simulated natural fishway of the Sanghe II hydropower station. This fishway has a total length of about 2900 meters, with a maximum water level difference of 26.5 meters between upstream and downstream, a bottom width of 4 to 5 meters, and a resting pool set every 800 meters or so. During the migration season, schools of fish occasionally swim upstream in the fishway.

Li Guoqing, Director of the Engineering Department of Sanghe Second level Hydropower Co., Ltd., introduced that the company attaches great importance to the impact of engineering construction and operation on the local ecological environment. In the early stage of the construction of the hydropower station, the company found through environmental impact assessment that there were 34 species of long-distance migratory fish in the project area. To meet the migratory characteristics of these fish, the company proactively communicated with the Cambodian side and added fishway engineering.

The water quality in the reservoir area is very good, and there are many and delicious fish, "said local resident Su Yi. In the past, their family relied on fishing for a living, but now that their lives have improved, fishing in the reservoir area has become a leisure activity.

Talent cultivation promotes long-term stable operation and maintenance

In order to cultivate local talents, Sanghe Second level Hydropower Co., Ltd. has formulated a 10-year plan to train Cambodian electrical engineers, arranging experienced Chinese engineers to sign mentorship agreements with Cambodian engineers for one-on-one guidance.

The Sanghe II Hydropower Station has provided us with valuable learning opportunities, "said Huang Lifeng, a Cambodian electrical engineer from the hydropower station operation and maintenance department. Chinese colleagues are friendly, enthusiastic, and meticulous in imparting work methods and experience. At present, there are more than 20 Cambodian engineers working at the hydropower station. They are all working hard to become qualified electrical engineers as soon as possible and contribute to the long-term stable operation and maintenance of the hydropower station.

In his spare time, Huang Lifeng often organizes gatherings, sports exercises, and other activities with his colleagues, forming a deep friendship between Chinese and Cambodian colleagues. Huang Lifeng said, "Working at the hydropower station makes me proud, and my colleagues make me feel warm. This is my second home

Cambodian State Secretary and spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, Bin Sovi, said that stable and accessible electricity is the foundation of industrial development and has brought significant improvements to people's daily lives, which is of great significance to Cambodia's development. The Sang River II hydropower station is not only a key link in Cambodia's power grid, but also brings valuable experience in the development and operation of large-scale hydropower stations to Cambodia, providing assistance for Cambodia's green development.

(Reported by Cambodia Shangding Electric)