Your current location:HOME >opinions >Feature: Surinamese villagers enjoy electricity supply thanks to eco 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 14:52:16 Source: Internet compilationEdit:opinions
PARAMARIBO, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Nestled deep within the embrace of the Amazon rainforest lies Botop
PARAMARIBO, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Nestled deep within the embrace of the Amazon rainforest lies Botopasi village, right in the heart of Suriname. Getting there from the capital city of Paramaribo takes five and a half hours -- two and a half hours by car and another three by boat along the Suriname River.
Besides the underdeveloped transportation infrastructure, villagers in the region were also unable to connect to the national electricity grid, thus lacking a continuous power supply for long periods of time. The diesel fuel provided by the government only generates a five-hour electricity supply per day.
Having stable access to electricity had been a wish of Botopasi villagers for long, but the absence of electricity and other inconveniences have compelled many of them to relocate to the capital in recent years, resulting in a decline in the village's population.
In 2019, Suriname's Ministry of Natural Resources signed an agreement with Power Construction Corporation of China (Power China), hoping to jointly solve the electricity problem for villagers in this area.
Suriname's Minister of Natural Resources David Abiamofo said the rural microgrid photovoltaic project is in line with the country's energy strategy and has improved the lives of people in disadvantaged inland areas.
Currently, Suriname is one of the three carbon-negative countries in the world, Abiamofo said. "Our goal is to make sure that our footprint becomes increasingly ecological."
After studying more than 10 villages, Xiong Zekun, project manager of Power China of Surinam Villages Micro-grid Solar Project, and his team presented a plan to build photovoltaic stations and install transmission lines in each village, forming a microgrid in each region.
Following the approval of the plan by the Surinamese government, Power China began construction. Six months later, it delivered the first phase of the project, the Goejaba microgrid, in 2020, which has since supplied the village with uninterrupted electricity.
Xiong recalled the night when the first phase of the project was inaugurated. "After turning on the lights and leaving the station, I passed by a house and saw a child studying under a lit lamp. This scene made me feel that all the efforts for this project were worth it," he said.
The successful operation of the first phase of the project has prompted the government of Suriname to authorize Power China to build microgrids in more villages. In October 2021, the second phase of the project was officially launched.
The village of Botopasi, where the camp for the second phase of Power China's project is located, is one of the nine villages set to benefit from the five complexes of the second phase. Once completed, these complexes will provide uninterrupted clean energy to more than 3,000 residents.
Born and raised in the village of Botopasi, Harry Wens Potter has been assisting the Power China team as an interpreter since the beginning of the second phase. "I love working to help Chinese company communicate with people from my village because electricity is so important for us," Potter told Xinhua.
"We live in the rainforest and have always lived in harmony with nature. The photovoltaic technology promoted by the Chinese will not harm local natural environment, which is exactly what we need," Porter said.
Suriname was one of the first Caribbean countries to sign the Belt and Road cooperation plan with China, for which Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi has repeatedly expressed support.
"China is taking leadership in the world and supporting other countries. One of the examples is the Belt and Road Initiative. My country is also benefiting from this development," Santokhi told reporters during his ongoing state visit to China. ■
French sports minister calls for sanctions after Monaco player tapes over anti2024-05-21 14:27
Japanese PM to US lawmakers: US does not have to confront global challenges alone2024-05-21 14:26
Russia hits vast dam in war's largest strike on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Kyiv says2024-05-21 14:04
HKFP Lens: Hong Kong marks China's National Day with displays of patriotism, pyrotechnics2024-05-21 14:03
Lynn Williams breaks NWSL goal2024-05-21 13:49
US defense chief denies genocide committed in Gaza2024-05-21 13:46
Israel to open three humanitarian routes into Gaza2024-05-21 12:41
Ukraine's Zelensky warns of dwindling air defence missiles2024-05-21 12:39
'The Apprentice,' about a young Donald Trump, premieres in Cannes2024-05-21 12:15
Govt opening door for more foreigner buyers to buy farm land2024-05-21 12:10
Jessica Biel CHOPS her long locks into a bob after book signing in Studio City2024-05-21 14:45
Tens of thousands of Israelis rally in Tel Aviv demanding Gaza hostage deal2024-05-21 14:36
Grief and anger in Moscow following concert attack2024-05-21 14:27
'Very significant' rise in home insurance premiums revealed2024-05-21 14:20
Ben Whishaw lights up the Croisette as he joins his co2024-05-21 13:58
Indigenous deaths in custody haunt Australia2024-05-21 13:08
Climate activist Greta Thunberg detained twice at demonstration in The Hague2024-05-21 13:08
Arrest made in NSW fatal hit2024-05-21 12:56
The government wants to buy their flood2024-05-21 12:38
New Zealand being considered as potential AUKUS Pillar Two partner2024-05-21 12:13