Chinese companies bring green development to Iraq

Ten years after China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese companies continue to bring opportunities for green development to the world, such as the move to help Iraq build its largest photovoltaic power station to mitigate energy shortage.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the plant was held on May 18 in Erbil Province of Iraq's semiautonomous region of Kurdistan.

Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani laid the foundation stone for the plant, which is also the first solar power plant in the province.

Barzani extended gratitude to companies involved in the project and said it was crucial to prioritize the utilization of clean, eco-friendly and alternative sources of energy.

"We have worked toward reforms in this sector to enhance the provision of electricity services to the people of Kurdistan," he said. "Through the implementation of smart meters, we aim to reduce electricity wastage and increase supply hours from the national grid. However, further development is necessary to ensure around-the-clock electricity supply to the public."

The region has not yet achieved the goal of providing 24-hour electricity, he said.

"I hope that solar, renewable, clean and eco-friendly electricity projects will continue to flourish in Kurdistan."

Chinese company Getting International Energy Holdings Group has invested $100 million in the construction of the 200-hectare photovoltaic plant. Built by another Chinese company, the plant is expected to generate 25 megawatts per hour and provide 220 million kWh of clean energy to the Kurdish region every year after completion.

Zhang Rui, CEO of the Getting International Energy Holdings Group, said that over the past 10 years, the BRI has forged a path of development of peace, prosperity, openness, green development, innovation and civilization.

The group has made great efforts to practice the fundamental concept of the BRI and brought China's high-quality production capacity, capital, technology and mature management experience to Iraq, promoting China and Iraq's cooperation under the BRI framework, Zhang said, adding that the photovoltaic plant will be completed and put into use in about 20 months.

Over the past 10 years, China has signed cooperation agreements with 151 countries and 32 international organizations. The initiative has created about 420,000 jobs and lifted nearly 40 million people out of poverty in countries along the routes, according to official figures.

He Yun, an associate professor at Hunan University's School of Public Administration, said the construction of the photovoltaic plant in Iraq is a commendable example of how the green development ethos of the BRI is being put into practice, and "demonstrates China's commitment to promoting sustainable growth and improving people's livelihoods in the regions it engages with".

The increasing commitment of Chinese companies to fostering green development along the Belt and the Road is significant, she said.

"By installing renewable energy facilities such as solar power stations, these enterprises are providing an essential resource that can catalyze local economic growth," she said, adding that their moves also contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.