Undeterred: China Huaneng commits to training engineers for Cambodia despite challenges
Undeterred: China Huaneng commits to training engineers for Cambodia despite challenges
Located in the province of Stung Treng, the Cambodian Hydropower Station Lower Sesan II has been controlled and managed by the Huaneng Lan Cang Jiang, a subsidiary of China Huaneng Group.
The power station, fully operational since December 2018, accounts for 14 percent of the power generated in Cambodia. To this day, it remains the largest hydropower plant in the Kingdom with a total installed capacity of 400,000 kilowatts. Now, the station, which has played a significant role in the Cambodian electricity grid, aims to focus on the development of the country’s human resource pool, particularly the local engineers.
Training Professional Engineers for Cambodia’s Future
Set to be handed over to the Cambodian government after 40 years, the power station continues to produce energy to alleviate the shortage in Cambodia, thus reducing its cost significantly.
In an effort to train the future generation of local engineers, Cambodians are upskilled through their onsite participation in operation and management control at the power station. Endowed with modern technological innovations and technical knowledge, the Hydropower Station Lower Sesan II is slated to provide more local employment opportunities to strengthen sustainable human resources for the upcoming years.
Through a tailor-made 15-year plan programme, Hydropower Station Lower Sesan II’s mandatory complete course offers a mentor-apprentice correspondence between Chinese experts and Cambodian engineers, respectively. The set-up is expected to produce more learned local engineers.
Thus, along the journey, small details will not be omitted as instruction goes back to square one. This includes identifying equipment and its purpose, being familiar with factory building, learning the rudiments of electricity and strengthening one’s problem-solving capabilities.
In less than two years after being fully in operation, Huaneng Sanghe II Hydropower Station undertook 22 Cambodians under their wing to become fully professional engineers who specialise in inspection and maintenance work.
Adapting to Challenges of 2020
At the beginning of 2020, countries worldwide were caught off guard by the emergence of the deadly coronavirus. The virus proved unrelenting, infecting millions of people and ravaging all sectors. To protect employees from the COVID-19 pandemic, the power plant implemented a strict policy to close management in a bid to limit the spread of the virus.
Nonetheless, Cambodian and Chinese engineers have worked hand in hand to ensure the safe production of power. At present, the hydropower plant has produced enough energy to supply households in Phnom Penh and the provinces of Stung Treng and Ratanakiri.
Long-time workers Meak and Ruos have been working onsite at the power station to ensure the maintenance of facilities and guarantee that units remain operational. Meak, responsible for communication tasks at the power plant, has even undertaken the initiative to learn the Chinese language to help out Chinese engineers on day-to-day equipment inspection and operations.
With the dedication and commitment of local staffers to be professional engineers, they are now able to work with little to no supervision. They proved their capabilities especially during the pandemic, bringing light to the Cambodian people with their deft skills. They had one main goal: to continue the safe production of stable and high-quality electricity for the Cambodian people.
With the full support of the Cambodian government and the internal management of the power station, China Huaneng has implemented strict anti-epidemic measures to ensure the well-being of all employees. Although the pandemic has undoubtedly affected other aspects of their operations, the safety production of power has remarkably been consistent.
“From an early stage, the company has adopted strict precautions to combat the pandemic. It is a responsible measure which contributes to the well-being of all employees regardless of nationality. I feel safe working in the power station knowing precautions are being taken,” said Kasol, a Cambodian engineer.
Mu Wan Peng, a Chinese national in charge of the safety supervision, said: “We are taking the anti-epidemic measures very seriously. It is important to be safe while at work. Therefore, the power station is giving priority to the health of Cambodian and Chinese employees while maintaining the Cambodian national power grid. Both countries are working together to ensure the continuous and stable production of power in the Kingdom.”
Li Mengsen, in charge of the power station in Stung Treng province, concludes: “At present, the development of the global epidemic remains challenging and uncertain. No matter how it unfolds in the future, China Huaneng is always willing to help Cambodia to combat the epidemic and overcome difficulties together.”
Credited: Khmer Times
