BRAVING the scorching sun, engineer Rinat Turganbekov patrolled through glittering solar panel arrays that adorn the expansive plains of Kazakhstan.

The Kapshagay photovoltaic power station, one of the largest single solar power projects in the Central Asian country, is a part of the China-Kazakhstan green energy cooperation initiative, jointly invested and constructed by the Chinese company Universal Energy and Kazakh counterparts.

As a seasoned member of Universal Energy Kazakhstan, Turganbekov has witnessed the remarkable transformation brought about by solar power stations, providing local residents with green and affordable electricity.

Meanwhile, along the Belt and Road, a series of cooperative efforts aimed at sustainable development are writing a new chapter of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

“Chinese companies have brought significant changes to my life,” said the 36-year-old, who studied in Tianjin and is proficient in Chinese.

During his five years at the company, the Kazakh engineer has participated in several construction projects. In 2020, the Kaskelen photovoltaic power station project was in a crucial phase.

Due to pandemic-related restrictions, Chinese employees could not return to Kazakhstan on time. Turganbekov, along with the Kazakh team, worked remotely with their Chinese counterparts, meticulously overcoming every challenge. Eventually, their efforts paid off, culminating in the successful and timely completion of the project.

The Kaskelen photovoltaic power station commenced power generation in June 2020, generating 80.8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and reducing local carbon emissions by 80,800 tonnes.

Meanwhile, green energy cooperation along the Belt and Road brings not only clear skies, lucid waters and lush mountains, but also newfound green wealth for people.

Over these five years, Turganbekov has seen his income increase and he managed to purchase a house in the major city of Almaty. “Chinese companies have helped me grow and have improved the lives of our local people,” he said.

According to Turganbekov, conventional power generation methods such as coal power tend to incur relatively high costs, consequently leading to elevated electricity prices for citizens.

Nan Yi, chairman of the Chinese energy company, revealed that since 2015, the company has been investing in new energy projects in Kazakhstan, including photovoltaic and wind energy stations. To date, it has completed the construction of six new energy stations with a total capacity of 380 megawatts. These projects reduce carbon dioxide emissions by one million tonnes annually, while meeting the electricity needs of approximately 600,000 local households.

“Nowadays, more and more people are joining hands with each other to build the Belt and Road,” Nan said. With a growing number of Chinese companies’ present in Central Asia, solar power and wind power stations have gained widespread recognition.

Both State-owned and private enterprises are actively “going global,” promoting standardized construction in local regions, Nan added. (Xinhua)