Laos

Sai Sunben is a typical mountainous area and ethnic minority settlements in Laos. In order to promote local economic and social development, Laos formally established Sai Sun Province at the end of 2013. During almost the same period, the construction of the China-Laos cooperation Nanpai Hydropower Station project started in the local area. Over the past few years, the hydropower project has achieved significant economic and social benefits, bringing new development opportunities to the villages there.

    Sai Sunben is located in central Laos. Although it is not far from the capital Vientiane, most foreign tourists and even people from other provinces in Laos rarely get involved. There are endless mountains and rivers, and it takes twenty to thirty miles of mountain roads to encounter a village. Many local residents still live a life of slash-and-burn cultivation, gathering and hunting.

    The Sino-Laos Cooperation Nanpai Hydropower Station project invested and constructed by China North Industries Corporation is located in Saisun province. It takes about 4 and a half hours to drive from Vientiane to Nanpai Hydropower Station.

    “It’s much better now than before. After the North Industries Corporation came, it widened the road and continued to maintain it.” Li Ling, who has been engaged in the construction industry in Laos for many years, said that his company won the bid for the hydropower station road upgrade project, The road from the operating village of the Pai Hydropower Station to the plant is hardened. "After the road is upgraded, there will be less dust, especially in the rainy season, it will be much safer."

    The Nanpai Hydropower Station project started in December 2013, and full-scale construction began a few months later. Chinese construction units have overcome the unfavorable factors such as muddy roads in rainy season, poor geological conditions of tunnels and plant slopes, and carefully organized construction. The hydropower station was awarded the Lao Government's completion acceptance certificate in August 2017 and entered commercial operation in November of that year. This project has become a milestone project in the economic cooperation between China and Laos since the "Belt and Road" initiative was put forward.

    He Yaowei, general manager of Nanpai Electric Power Co., Ltd., told Xinhua News Agency reporters that Nanpai Hydropower Station is a long diversion power station with a small flooding area and large storage capacity. Sold to the Lao National Electric Power Company, and has integrated functions such as tourism and fishery. The resettlement and environmental protection work related to hydropower stations has been commended by the local government many times.

    "I have been working here for more than two years, and now I am the chief duty supervisor of the operation and maintenance department. There are 5 people in my group, all of whom are locals." said Adong, a native of the Lao Song ethnic group in Saisun province. His main job responsibilities are to monitor the operation of equipment, calculate power generation, troubleshoot general mechanical failures and make reports.

    Every morning, the commuter car from the operating village of the hydropower station brings a Chinese technician and several Lao employees to the hydropower plant to handover shifts. He Jingzhe, deputy general manager of Nanpai Electric Power Co., Ltd., told reporters that the staff on duty in the central control room of Nanpai Hydropower Station are now all local ethnic minority employees. Chinese engineers are responsible for supervision and guidance. Lao employees are already competent in the daily operation and maintenance of the power station.

    "My family are farmers. I used to install electrical equipment in Vientiane, and the salary was not enough. After I got here, the salary was high. The company also took care of board and lodging. I sent part of the salary to my parents and part of it to my younger siblings for school." Adong said .

    He Jingzhe said: "In the next step, the company will promote outstanding Lao employees to the management of the power station, and truly realize that the Nanpai Hydropower Station is operated and managed independently by Lao employees."

    After the impoundment of the Nanpai Hydropower Station, the North Industries Corporation built new resettlement villages with water, electricity, and access routes for the three affected villages, as well as schools, administrative, economic and cultural venues. In order to make full use of these good infrastructures, the Lao government moved villagers from two villages from other areas with poor conditions. Part of the ethnic minority people who were originally scattered in the mountains have also spontaneously gathered in the immigrant villages.

    Teacher Sang, who taught in the newly-built school of the North Industries Corporation, returned to his hometown after graduating from the National University of Laos. "With water and electricity, life will be better. When the road is open, children will be able to get out of the mountains and go further, and more people from outside will come here, bringing more color and opportunities to this place," she said , "Because of the hydropower station, this place is getting better and better."