Recently, the China-aided solar energy demonstration village project in Mali, constructed by China Geotechnical Engineering Group Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Energy Conservation, passed the completion acceptance in the villages of Coniobra and Kalan in Mali. A total of 1,195 off-grid solar household systems, 200 solar street light systems, 17 solar water pump systems and 2 concentrated solar power supply systems were installed in this project, directly benefiting tens of thousands of local people.
It is understood that Mali, a West African country, has always been in short supply of electricity resources, and the rural electrification rate is less than 20%. The village of Koniobra is located southeast of the capital Bamako. There is almost no electricity supply in the village. The villagers can only rely on a few hand-pressed wells for water, and they have to queue for a long time every day to get water.
Pan Zhaoligang, an employee of China Geology Project, said, “When we first arrived, most of the villagers still lived the traditional life of slash-and-burn farming. The village was dark and quiet at night, and almost no one came out to walk around.”
After the completion of the project, the dark villages have street lights along the streets at night, so villagers no longer need to use flashlights when traveling; small shops that open at night have also appeared at the entrance of the village, and simple houses have warm lights; and mobile phone charging no longer requires a full charge. The villagers were looking for a place where they could temporarily charge their batteries, and some families bought TV sets.
According to reports, this project is another pragmatic measure to promote clean energy in the field of people’s livelihood and share green development experience. It is of practical significance to help Mali take the road of green and sustainable development. Zhao Yongqing, project manager of the Solar Demonstration Village, has been working in Africa for more than ten years. He said: “The solar photovoltaic demonstration project, which is small but beautiful, benefits people’s livelihood, and has quick results, not only meets Mali’s practical needs to improve the construction of rural supporting facilities, but also meets the needs of Mali to improve the construction of rural supporting facilities. It meets the local people’s long-term longing for a happy life.”
The head of Mali’s Renewable Energy Agency said that advanced photovoltaic technology is crucial to Mali’s response to climate change and improving rural people’s livelihood. “The China-Aided Solar Demonstration Village Project in Mali is a very meaningful practice in applying photovoltaic technology to explore and improve people’s livelihood in remote and backward villages.”
Post time: Mar-18-2024
