Water supply project brings accolades for Chinese firm

In several regions of Africa, towering skyscrapers and sprawling railroads may symbolize progress, but for local communities, the priorities lie elsewhere — clean water, power supply and accessible healthcare.

Projects that directly improve public well-being, such as water supply systems, remain at the forefront of people's concerns.

In areas where daily survival hinges on basics, residents often question the value of high-profile infrastructure when families still wake up at dawn to fetch water or go without electricity for days.

State-owned China Railway 20th Bureau Group Corp, a subsidiary of Beijing-based China Railway Construction Corp Ltd, has responded to that call and sought to address these fundamental needs in the continent.

Earlier this month, the company announced that a large-scale and advanced water supply project had passed final inspection in Angola's Cabinda province.

Since its completion and commissioning in 2021, the project has met the water needs of over 600,000 people, improving the quality of public drinking water in the region and allowing local residents easy access to clean, convenient drinking water without leaving their homes.

The system's 74 water supply sites now deliver 50,000 cubic meters of water on a daily basis, benefiting 90 percent of the residential areas in Cabinda.

Drinking water safety has long been a major issue in Angola.

The development and use of local water resources have been constrained by a lack of funds and outdated technology, hindering its economic and social development, said Li Zhengfeng, head of CR20G's water supply project in Cabinda.

In the province's Futila area for example, the water supply system was largely nonfunctional for an extended period due to the aging, dilapidated facilities and insufficient water pressure.

Li said that locals relied solely on a few wells for daily water supply, which couldn't satisfy their needs. Many of them had to get up at 4 am to collect water. Despite these efforts, it was still hard to ensure the quality of water sources.

"As a key project under the Belt and Road Initiative, we have not only been responsible for the normal operation and maintenance of the water plant, but also provided training for employees of the local water company since it became operational in 2021 to ensure efficient, independent operation after handover," he added.

During the operation, CR20G's construction team made more than 10 design variations and scheme optimizations. Due to the scarcity of local resources, nearly 200 types of construction materials and equipment were sourced from China, Portugal and neighboring countries.

Li said that the project has created over 1,000 job opportunities for local residents, imparting advanced management practices and construction experience, and training a group of engineers.

The completion of this project has significantly alleviated residents' water shortages and is anticipated to positively impact local business growth and transportation services, he noted.

Driven by the tangible growth of the BRI, China's efficient supply chain operations and its companies' willingness to expand overseas markets, Chinese companies are well-positioned to conduct business activities in Africa and other emerging markets, said Peng Bo, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing.

"As globalization accelerates and more economies focus on building or upgrading infrastructure, these opportunities continue to grow," Peng said.

With more than 17,000 employees, Xi'an, Shaanxi province-based CR20G has built a market presence in more than 20 countries, including Mozambique, Uzbekistan and Mongolia.

Aside from the design and construction of transportation infrastructure, the Chinese company's business scope includes real estate development, manufacturing, logistics and trade, railway transportation, environmental protection, engineering project inspection, design consulting and training.