POWERCHINA dedicated to African partners for nearly six decades

Over nearly 60 years, POWERCHINA has consistently been making great efforts to improve the power facilities in many areas across Africa, since its first entry into the continent in 1964.

Thanks to the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative, the partnership between POWERCHINA and Africa has reached an all-time high level, with nine African countries joining in the initiative and more than 50 countries having cooperated with the China State-owned company.

As early as 1964, POWERCHINA established Jinkang Hydropower Station in Guinea, its first project in Africa. Since then, the company has continuously explored better ways for promoting development and improving living conditions for Africans.

A group picture from 1964 of the first POWERCHINA workers in Africa with their local project co-workers. [Photo/POWERCHINA]

From attempting to build up its own brand early in the relationship to its current group globalization layout, POWERCHINA has made numerous breakthroughs in Africa, such as Africa's longest dam, Merowe Hydroelectric Power Station in Sudan, Africa's biggest wind power facility, Adama wind farm Phase I & II Project in Ethiopia, and even the Morocco Noor III 150 MW Solar-thermal power plant, which has the world's largest installed capacity for a plant of its kind.

A view of the Adama wind farm in Ethiopia. [Photo/POWERCHINA]

A view of the Morocco Solar-thermal power plant. [Photo/POWERCHINA]

The company has always regarded Africa as a key market for its globalization efforts. Statistics show that by the end of March 2018, POWERCHINA had established 85 institutions in 45 countries and operated 837 contracts worth 239.2 billion yuan ($33.86 billion) in 46 countries across Africa, with projects in diversified fields spanning water, power, transport, shipping, and housing.

On March 8, 2017, POWERCHINA set up its global East and Southern Africa Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya to advance cooperation on energy and infrastructure between China and Africa. To date, the company has had more than 300 projects exceeding $15 billion in Africa.

POWERCHINA has become Africa's largest trader for nine consecutive years since 2009, while Africa accounts for seven places among the top 10 of China's biggest newly signed contracts with overseas countries.

As a pioneer and practitioner of the global project contracting business model innovation, POWERRCHINA has explored an "African Model" to carry out several effective and high-quality projects there. For example, in 2003, it signed a package of cooperation memorandum with Zambia to complete 10 projects over 14 years, which has become a model of cooperation for Chinese enterprises to work with African governments.

At present, the East and Southern Africa Headquarters has been responsible for 26 countries in Africa and operated business with 20 of them. The headquarters also opened offices, subsidiaries, and branches in 19 countries, as well as co-established representative offices with 10 key countries.

POWERCHINA's efforts have been recognized by many African countries and government officials. Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa expressed his sincere gratitude to POWERCHINA for the expansion of the Kariba South Hydropower Station, which is critical for the Zimbabwean economy.

In central and west Africa, POWERCHINA has held 59 training sessions for 440 government officials in 38 countries. By organizing and attending numerous meetings and forums, POWERCHINA has made full use of its brand influence and business resources in Africa.