---The 2005 International Training
Workshop on Small Hydropower for African countries, sponsored
by Chinese Ministry of Commerce, has been held from 2nd
Sep. to 26th Sep. at Hangzhou Regional Center For Small
Hydro Powder (HRC). Totally 24 participants from 13 countries
(such as Morocco, Burundi, Mali, Mauritius, etc.) attended
this training.
It is a challenge to adopt French in
conducting this SHP training workshop for French-speaking
countries, the first kind since the establishment of HRC
in 1981. Staff of HRC Secretariat actively learn French
and try every way to organize it well. The satisfactory
interpretation by the specially invited foreign interpreter
who is proficient in French, English and Chinese promoted
the quality of the whole training workshop. Meanwhile,
we have been striving to seek the teachers who can directly
present in French.
African countries face severe shortage
of electricity. Mali participant introduced that the electricity
coverage in the country is only 12% and in the rural area
less than 1%. The situation in other countries is similar.
After visits to SHP stations and manufacturers in China,
participants felt that SHP technology in China is proven,
equipment reliable and price reasonable. Class monitor
and the participant from Mali commented in his speech
at the closing ceremony, "The small hydropower technology
in China is just appropriate to the technical level of
our Africa countries. HRC has strong expertise in SHP
training, design, consultation and complete equipment
supply. I sincerely hope that HRC will continue to hold
the small hydropower training workshop to help the development
of the SHP resources in African countries."
During the period of training workshop,
a series of SHP technical-cooperation discussions have
been conducted with the participants from Rwanda, Congo,
R.D.Congo, Mali, Niger, Guinea, etc.. In these discussions,
their demand and suggestions have been explored related
to the SHP development in their own countries, and HRC
expressed the willingness to provide assistance to the
SHP exploitation in these countries in terms of either
SHP planning, training, designing or equipment supply.
Many participants provided their national future development
plan on SHP to HRC for cooperative reference, and expressed
that they would push forward the cooperation between HRC
and their home countries, disseminating China¡¯s SHP technology
and experience.
Under the powerful support of Chinese
Ministry of Water Resources, HRC upgraded its hotel and
training facilities in 2004. Nearly all the participants
were satisfied.
By 29 Sept all the African participants
had left HRC for home.(2005-09-30)
Discussion with participants for SHP cooperation
Visit to HRC's Lab
At the closing ceremony
Distributing HRC's Certificate
Group photo at the closing
