Focus on social responsibility earns POWERCHINA good reputation

POWERCHINA has always placed the Belt and Road Initiative on top of its working list and has maintained a good friendship with Laos as early as when the State-owned company started its development of the Nam Ou River Cascade hydropower project about a decade ago.

From the beginning of the project's development, POWERCHINA emphasized localization into the management regulations for both the project and the project team. Now more and more Lao workers say they enjoy their working time at POWERCHINA's project.

Stimulating employment

From field classes to management and practice training, POWERCHINA has made every effort to cultivate local talents in Laos. It also even provided opportunities for Lao universities students to study at China's Wuhan University.

"I have learned a lot of management and skills since I started to work for POWERCHINA's Nam Ou River project. Now I earn a stable salary and my parents are able to run a store," said a Lao worker at the HSE management office.

As of now, the first and second phase of the Nam Ou River Cascade hydropower project have provided more than 10,000 jobs in Laos and as many as 60 percent of them are native Laotians.

Caring for employees

Due to the vast religious difference and customs between Lao and Chinese employees, POWERCHINA has organized various cultural exchanges and sport activities to enhance the understanding and friendship between them.

Lao employees can enjoy their national holidays when working for the project. In addition, Chinese employees usually take part to share the joyous occasions and understand more about their Lao colleagues.

"We are like a big family and I'm very happy to have the Laos new year with my Chinese colleagues. I appreciate the company very much," said a Lao employee with the Nam Ou River Cascade hydropower project.

Both Chinese and Lao workers take part in a celebration together for Lao National Day on Dec 2. [Photo/POWERCHINA]

Benefiting locals

The Nam Ou River Cascade hydropower project team is not only committed to the hydropower station's development, but attaches great importance to other activities that benefit locals.

In 2018, thousands of people were driven out of their homes due to severe floods. Immediately, the project team took the initiative to donate money for rebuilding homes.

In addition, the team has contributed greatly to the sustainable and ecological development around the Nam Ou River by providing care and protection for its biological diversity and water creatures.

Project workers try to protect the ecological environment around Nam Ou River by setting fish free in the river. [Photo/POWERCHINA]

POWERCHINA's efforts have been recognized by several Lao government officials. During an inspection of the Nam Ou River Cascade hydropower project last December, Khammany Inthirath, head of Laos' Ministry of Energy and Mines, expressed appreciation for POWERCHINA's contributions to local economic development, employment, and livelihood improvement.

In September 2018, POWERCHINA won a wide range of positive comments at a sharing conference in Luang Prabang, Laos, after the company shared its experiences in taking social responsibility in the southeastern country, especially for the Nam Ou River Cascade hydropower project.

Project workers are active in donating money to Lao schools and students in poverty-stricken areas. [Photo/POWERCHINA]