---Entrusted by the Ministry of Commerce
(MOFCOM), HRC conducts the 2014 Seminar on Rural Electrification
for Francophone African Countries with the participation
of 23 officials from the fields of energy and rural electrification
in 13 francophone African countries, i.e. Benin, Chad,
Comoros, Cote d'ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Mali, Niger, R. Congo, Senegal and Togo. The 28-day seminar,
kicking off on 16th May and accomplishing on 12th June,
is the 67th China-aid training program implemented by
HRC since its establishment.
The opening ceremony of the seminar
held at the multifunctional hall of HRC was presided over
by Mr. Lin Ning, the Division Chief of Foreign Affairs
and Training of HRC. Ms. Cheng Xialei, Director of HRC
delivered a speech, extending the warm welcome to all
the participants who came all the way here from Africa
for the significant event.
Director Cheng firstly reviewed the
recent African visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, and
shared with the participants his enlightening keynote
speech delivered at 2014 World Economic Forum on Africa.
The subject of our on-going seminar is Rural Electrification.
Generally, there are three approaches to realize rural
electrification, such as extension of national grid, utilization
of small diesel generators or other thermal power generation
and development of decentralized renewable energy sources
including SHP, wind power and solar energy. In China,
two thirds of rural electrification is implemented by
extension of national grid and the rest one third by small
hydropower, which plays a very important role in the construction
of rural electrification. The seminar is designated to
provide a platform for the francophone African countries
to fully discuss and communicate in the field of renewable
energy, inclusive of small hydropower, wind power and
solar energy, focusing on the exchange of updated technology
and management practice. It is highly expected that the
seminar will be successful and fruitful, making further
contribution to rural electrification development in African
countries.
Mr. Mahdi A. Alroufaye, an official
from the Ministry of Energy of Chad, delivered a speech
on behalf of all the participants, expressing their sincere
gratitude to the Chinese Government for the cordial invitation
and to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce for the long-term
support and assistance to Africa. All the African officials
assured HRC that they would do their best to ensure the
smooth implementation of the seminar, and the skills and
technologies learnt at this seminar would be applied into
practice, promoting the rural electrification development
in their respective countries. Finally, the speech was
concluded with the passionate expression:"Long life
international cooperation! Long life South-South cooperation!
Long life African cooperation! Long life HRC!"
Some of HRC chiefs, lecturers, and
staff members from the related divisions and Hangzhou
Yatai Hydro Equipment Completing Co. Ltd. (a subsidiary
of HRC) were also present at the opening ceremony. (2014-05-23)
