An open house was jointly held by China Longyuan Power Group Corporation Limited, a subsidiary of China Energy Investment Corporation (China Energy), the South Africa-China Economy and Trade Association and People's Daily via video link in early December 2022.
The event was intended to promote clean energy cooperation in the co-construction of the Belt and Road, tell stories of people-to-people interconnectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative and show Chinese enterprises' international image.
Youth representatives from the government, think tanks, universities and enterprises in China and South Africa, as well as South African celebrities, were invited to the event, taking the virtual tour at the De Aar Wind Farm, the first of its kind that was invested, built and operated by China in Africa, and the Yumen Wind Farm in China, one of the first wind farms to be put into operation in China and one that shares similar climate and landform conditions with the De Aar Wind Farm.
The De Aar Wind Farm was completed and put into operation in 2017 and can provide about 760 million kilowatt-hours of power annually, equaling that produced by burning 215,800 metric tons of standard coal and reducing emissions of 619,900 tons of carbon dioxide. Its output can meet the power demands of 300,000 local households.
The project has effectively optimized local energy structure and promoted clean and low-carbon development in affected areas.
The wind power project is the first and only large-scale renewable energy and voluntary carbon emission reduction project in South Africa registered on the Voluntary Carbon Standard Platform. By October 2022, the platform had completed carbon reduction of 3,083,600 tons.
While constructing and operating wind power projects in South Africa, China Longyuan Power Group Corporation Limited fulfilled its social responsibility to benefit local communities by setting up a special community fund for education, health care and skills training in communities in affected areas. By October 2022, the company has invested a total of 65.34 million rand (about $3.98 million) in such activities.
The open house showed China Longyuan Power Group Corporation Limited's efforts in developing clean energy, fulfilling social responsibilities and promoting cultural exchange and integration adhering to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits.
In a session focusing on a low-carbon future, participants exchanged ideas on new energy development and enterprise stories. Representatives of the South Africa-China Economy and Trade Association said that South Africa has rich renewable energy resources such as wind and solar energy that have great development value and potential, and that support deepened cooperation between China and South Africa in green and sustainable development.
(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)
