BEIJING, Aug. 12, 2020 \/PRNewswire\/ — An Open Day to showcase\u00a0operations, COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control measures and resumption of work at the De Aar wind power project, South Africa’s largest wind power project, was held on Aug 10.<\/p>\n
Themed “Greener\u00a0Energy, Greener\u00a0Life”, the event was presided\u00a0over by Longyuan South Africa Renewables\u00a0of China\u00a0Longyuan Power Group Corporation Limited, a subsidiary of China Energy Investment Corporation (China Energy),\u00a0to demonstrate\u00a0how Chinese SOEs fulfill their responsibilities.<\/p>\n
During the event, Beverly, a local employee at the company, ushered viewers around different parts of the De Aar wind farm, including the substation, the central control room, wind turbine tower and nacelle, informing them about\u00a0the electric-generation principle, the structure of the wind turbine and layout of the wind farm, as well as\u00a0the wind farm’s operation and pandemic prevention measures.<\/p>\n
According to staff members, the De Aar wind farm has been in stable and safe operation and has provided nearly 2 billion kWh of clean power to South Africa, meeting the\u00a0power demands of 300,000 households.<\/p>\n
Since\u00a0the pandemic broke out the wind farm has provided more than 200 million kWh of electricity to affected areas.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0went into operation in 2017 and was the first of its kind to be\u00a0invested, constructed and operated by a Chinese enterprise\u00a0in Africa.<\/p>\n
It is capable of providing about 760 million kWh of power annually, equalling the\u00a0power produced by burning 215,800 tons of standard coal and reducing\u00a0emission of 619,900 tons of carbon dioxide.<\/p>\n
The farm plays a key role in improving local energy structure and promoting clean and low-carbon development in South Africa.<\/p>\n
In addition to wind farm operation, Longyuan South Africa Renewables\u00a0constructed\u00a0six classrooms and teaching facilities at a\u00a0local early learning center.<\/p>\n
During the COVID-19 outbreak, it also helped the center purchase food for children.<\/p>\n
A teacher at the center expressed\u00a0her gratitude through a\u00a0video call during the event.<\/p>\n
So far, the company has invested a total of 13.25 million rand ($752,070) to support outstanding college students in finishing\u00a0their studies\u00a0and constructed\u00a0early learning centers for children from poverty-stricken families.<\/p>\n
Msengana, director of economic development of a local municipality, De Aar, stressed the wind farm’s contribution to local employment in an interview.<\/p>\n
He said that the wind farm has created jobs for local people and played a significant role in supporting development of small and medium-sized enterprises.<\/p>\n
Moreover, the company invested 15 million rand in neighborhood\u00a0development\u00a0every year and provided funds and critical anti-pandemic supplies valued at about 3.5 million rand to Cape Town and Northern Cape to help local governments fight the COVID-19 outbreak.<\/p>\n