China-built water projects generate clean power for Latin America

The Ecuadoran Vice-President, Jorge David Glas (C), poses with employees in one of the tunnels of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric project, in El Chaco, Napo province, Ecuador, April 7, 2015. The Chinese Sinohydro Corporation completed on April 7 the stage of conduction of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric project, the biggest hydroelectric power station in the Amazon of Ecuador. [Photo/Xinhua]

QUITO - Sino-Latin American cooperation and friendship have witnessed continuous growth in recent years, owing to the fact that sound political relations provide strong political guarantees.

Despite an overall volatile international climate, China and Latin America have enhanced high-level contacts under the principles of equality, mutual benefit and common development.

Massive water projects built by Chinese companies in Ecuador and other Latin American countries are an epitome of Sino-Latin American cooperation and help nurture the flower of cross-continental friendship.

Over the past five years, the number of Chinese companies in Ecuador has increased from 26 in 2011 to over 80 this year. China has become Ecuador's main investment and financing source while Ecuador is China's fourth largest market for contracted projects in Latin America.

The construction of power stations has become a hallmark of infrastructure cooperation between the two countries in recent years.

Last month, Ecuador held a ceremony to celebrate the successful completion of a headrace tunnel for its Coca Codo Sinclair (CCS) hydroelectric station.

The CCS hydroelectric facility, which is currently being developed, is the largest energy project in Ecuador's history. Located in the Amazon Basin, 100 km east of Ecuador's capital Quito, the 1,500MW power station is constructed by the Chinese company Sinohydro and will be a run-of-river development on the Coca River.

The project is being promoted as a centerpiece of Ecuador's new energy plan, which could reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 4.43 million tons per year and replace imported energy resources.

The project has created over 7,700 direct jobs for local people and benefits more than 16,000 inhabitants by implementing new compensation practices through sustainable development programs, such as implementation and improvement of sewage systems, water and waste sorting collection and treatment, and organic soil storage and reuse.

Moreover, CCS is seeking to guarantee the right of communities to live in a healthy and ecologically balanced environment by financing infrastructure in local communities, providing goods and services to strengthen educational establishments, and training community members for better agricultural production.

Due to the outstanding contributions made by the project, CCS's project manager for the Chinese side has been awarded the "Honorary Citizenship of Chaco City" by the city's mayor.