POWERCHINA Plays a Role in China-Kazakhstan Cooperation

A ceremony was held on Sept 12, 2022 to announce operation of the Shelek Wind Farm in Kazakhstan.

Jointly invested and built by Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA) and Samruk-Energy Joint-Stock Company, the project is a key result of the high-quality co-construction of the Belt and Road.

A view of the Shelek Wind Farm in Kazakhstan that begins operation on Sept 12, 2022 [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

A model of China-Kazakhstan industrial cooperation

The finance and education center of Kazakhstan, Alma-Ata on the Southeast border of the country, was once plagued by energy shortages.

The Shelek region with rich wind resources is just 150 kilometers from Alma-Ata. However, development of the wind farm had not been pushed forward according to schedule for various reasons.

POWERCHINA has been devoted to investment and construction of wind power projects since it started its business in Kazakhstan in 2008. In April 2019, POWERCHINA joined in the wind farm project in Alma-Ata, speeding up its development and construction.

According to Luo Jun, head of the Shelek Wind Farm project, the wind farm has a total installed capacity of 60 megawatts and features 24 2.5-MW wind turbine units. Four 35-kilovolt electrical circuits were erected in the wind farm and a 110-kV booster station linking with the 220-kV Shelek transformer substation was built.

He added that the project is expected to generate 228 million kilowatt-hours of power annually upon operation.

At the launch ceremony of the wind farm, POWERCHINA and the Samruk Kazyna Fund also signed a memorandum of understanding on development of the Shelek second-phase renewable energy project.

A result of joint efforts of China and Kazakhstan

A group of POWERCHINA subsidiaries focusing on investment, design, engineering, supervision and operation and maintenance in the new energy field have played a role in development of the Shelek Wind Farm project. The investment-construction-operation mode of POWERCHINA has laid a foundation of the project construction.

The wind farm was built to Chinese standards and the main electromechanical equipment was purchased from China, which promoted export of Chinese standards, technologies and equipment.

In mid-June, 2021, the first equipment was delivered to the construction site and on Nov 18, 2021, the first wind turbine unit started hoisting and was completed on Dec 5, 2021.

With joint efforts of the Chinese and Kazakhstan builders, all key processes had been done in accordance with the plan.

The project realized full operation on July 27, 2022, and as of Sept 12, 2022, had generated more than 25 million kWh of power.

A reflection of the profound friendship

Since the very beginning of the construction, local residents were welcomed to participate in the project. They have played a key role in technical work and management.

A local worker said that the Chinese engineers are very professional and diligent and they are willing to teach local workers the China-developed engineering techniques and management methods. Many local workers learned how to read an engineering map and logically arrange the engineering procedures as well as how to calculate engineering materials.

He added that deep friendships have also been formed between the Chinese and Kazakhstan workers.

In addition to learning techniques and getting promotions, local workers also enjoyed increased income, which improved their quality of life.

According to POWERCHINA, the Shelek Wind Farm project provided nearly 1,000 jobs for local people working in related industries.

It is expected that more local people will be recruited to participate in the project upon its operation. The company plans to cultivate local wind power operation and maintenance talents while guaranteeing safe and stable operation of the wind farm, which will advance the development of the country's wind power industry and benefit more local people.

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)