2002 is the year of re-vitalization for HRC. In addition to persistent organization of international SHP training workshops, quite a lot of international activities and cooperative projects were strengthened for transition from TCDC on to ECDC/TCDC. Although it was just started, evident results have been witnessed.

    I. International SHP training

    In 2002, two TCDC (Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries) SHP Training Workshops were conducted at HRC. Attended altogether 32 participants from 19 Asian, African and Oceanic countries. According to the questionnaires, the satisfactory and very satisfactory ratio reached 100% in regard with the training organization work and training effect.

    Meticulous preparation was made for implementing the training well. Preparatory meetings of experts were held to arrange and organize the training, including adjustment of scheduling and selection of well-known lecturers. Though the duration of 40 days for each of the workshop was short, the participants benefited much from the training. The monitor of the class, Mr. Wongsavasdi from Thailand addressed: "We all learnt a lot from the workshop. The subjects covered were just appropriate for our country. We'll apply what we have learnt here into our work back home. "

    During the training, the participants were arranged to visit some SHP stations of various types and hydropower equipment manufacturers. They went to Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute to visit the Experiment Base which is the largest of the kind in East China. In Shanghai all the participants were surprised by the development level, vigor and by its skyscrapers of the city.

    Upon the end of each workshop, HRC arranged a forum for exchange of SHP experience and technology. Representatives from the 19 countries presented their country reports, introducing the experiences and lessons of developing SHP in their own countries. The computer aided presentations were well prepared and informative, often interwoven by the heated discussions. Being aware of the Chinese SHP technology, some participants have expressed their deep interest and strong demand for importing Chinese equipment and technology. Cooperation intents were thus reached with several countries including Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia. .

    The two training workshops have been sponsored by Chinese Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, as one of the technical collaborative projects among the developing countries. All the lodging, boarding, training, pocket money and the domestic transportation fees are borne by the Chinese government. This is part of the Chinese contribution to South-South cooperation.

    II. International conferences

    Director Chen Delivered a Presentation in Thailand

    Invited and funded by Center for Energy Environment Research & Development (CEERD) of Thailand, Dr. Chen Shengshui, Director of HRC attended ASEM Green Independent Power Producers Network --- First Regional Workshop held in Bangkok on 23-25th Oct. The general objective of the network is to contribute to higher market maturity in the green power business to make sustainable development in the power sector more efficient and competitive. Dr. Chen has delivered a presentation titled "Market Conditions, Barriers and Outlook for Small and Mini-hydro in SEA", which showed HRC's capability of awareness and condition for member countries in this region and was welcome by the participants. During the meeting, Dr. Chen has widely contacted friends from over the world. He has also held a short discussion with Mr.Saha, Head of Dept. of Environment and National Resources in UN-ESCAP and Mr. Lefevre, Director of CEERD. These activities will promote the relation and exchange of information between HRC and UN-ESCAP and other member countries.

    III. International cooperation & activities

    1. Vitalize and strengthen HRC's international activities

    Since early 2002, efforts have been made to strengthen HRC's international cooperation on SHP and contacts were made with some 90 countries and international organizations in the world. Concrete cooperative projects preliminarily set up between 16 countries and HRC for SHP design, consultation, equipment supply, application of automation technology, engineering contracting and financing, with the countries including Canada, Costa Rica, Greece, India and Indonesia etc. It'd be implemented step by step in 2003 and will have more projects further.

    2. Korean Guests Visited HRC

    A 5-member delegation from the Academy of Science of D.P.R. Korea, headed by Mr. Kim Gwong Hyok, Director of Electrical Research Institute visited HRC and SHP equipment manufacturers during October 28 to November 5. Friendly discussions for cooperation were held. The delegation has focused their investigation and study on SHP equipment manufacturing level and automation technology in China. Requests from the delegation were: (1) entrusting HRC to provide equipment and technology for renovation of several SHP stations in D.P.R. Korea; (2) provision of more technical information and; (3) assisting in communicating with UNIDO for financing SHP projects in D.P.R. Korea etc.. Letter of Intent for cooperation was signed for successive implementation in the near future.

    3. Entrusted by Mortimpex of Mongolia, HRC undertook the design for the Ulaanbaatar Pumped Storage Plant and assisted the selection of the investor in China. The feasibility study design phase has been completed so far. After approval of the owner and the investor, the construction will hopefully be started in 2003.

    4. Entrusted by the Hydro Power Institute of Viet Nam, HRC undertook the automation design for a demonstrative SHP station for comprehensive development in Viet Nam. The dam, power house, transmission line have all been completed. What is needed is only the turbo-generator units and the automatic equipment. The natural surroundings of the station is gracefully provided with potential of multi-purpose development including power generation, flood prevention, irrigation, cultivation, environmental protection, tourism and recreation etc.

    5. An agreement has been reached between HRC and two Chinese foreign investing enterprises with the Vietnamese Civil Engineering Construction Co and Hydro Power Center of Viet Nam for jointly developing three SHP stations (each of several MW) in Viet Nam. The cooperative mode of EPC contracting or Seller's loan for equipment export was explored. Besides, HRC as the technically responsible side will help setting up the national SHP automatic controlling lab for Vietnamese side.

    6. In May, a delegation from the Bluemoon Fund of the United States paid a visit to HRC and both sides held talks relating to application of the fund issues of sustainable development of new and renewable energy as well as the mature experiences of SHP technology in China and assistance in the poverty alleviation for the vast hilly rural areas.

    7. Mr. Ario from the Indonesian Ministry of Mines & Energy paid a visit to HRC on 20 Aug. Based on the data the Indonesian side provided, HRC studied and offered quotations to the two hydro power projects in Indonesia. The Indonesian guests also went to visit the Chinese equipment manufacturers nearby.

    8. For establishing long-term cooperation with HRC, Dr. Alex Tseng of ORENCO in US visited and held one day discussion with HRC. ORENCO is a US Engineering, Supply and Consulting Co. which has imported several tens of SHP equipment from China into the US and packaged with automatic accessories from USA for SHP in the U.S. Upon discussion, both sides are willing to set up long-term cooperation. At present, Dr. Tseng has introduced several SHP projects in Central America such as Costa Rica and Guatemala for HRC to provide feasibility study, equipment and EPC contracting, etc., which will be implemented step by step.

    9. On 11 Nov Ms. J. Wu from the World Bank paid a working visit to HRC. After getting to know what HRC has scored in promoting the global SHP development, Ms. J. Wu who is one of the HRC's old friends, evaluated highly on HRC's achievements in the recent years and recommended that HRC may apply for undertaking some cooperative projects from the World Bank in regard with the SHP training and short-term consultation etc. She showed keen interest to know the changes in investment approaches for SHP stations in China in the past years after HRC staff briefed the introduction to her. Recently official invitation from the World Bank has been sent to HRC for sending an expert to Zambia in Africa for site selection of SHP stations.

    10. On 8 Dec., 2002, President of Shree-Neel Corp, India, Mr.S.Pustake paid a friendly visit to HRC and a substantial discussion was held. Shree-Neel Corp is located in mid of India and the rural irrigation system is well developed there, with rich hydro resources which is appropriate for SHP development. Mr. Pustake placed high evaluation to HRC's SHP design, equipment supply, SHP automation and basin hydrological auto-metering. He expressed his keen expectation of long-term cooperation with HRC, jointly exploiting the SHP market in India. For the first phase development, a MOU was signed between the two sides and it is expected to be implemented in 2003.

    IV. Receiving international or overseas visitors & sending out international missions

    1. HRC received 12 groups (30 people) of international or overseas visitors. (see the attachment 1)

    2. HRC organized 5 groups (7 people) to implement missions abroad.( see the attachment 2)

    V. Information service

    1. Creation of the HRC homepage

    HRC formally created the HRC homepage in 2002. Through the building and operating of the information network, we would further enlarge and deepen the information exchange between the member countries in the Asia-Pacific region in the field of small hydro power. Meanwhile, it would also promote the international technical and economical cooperation in this domain, completely demonstrating the principle of "South–South Cooperation". Moreover, it would relevantly promote the international cooperation in SHP technology and experience between the developing countries in the Region and the developed countries in the world as well.

    Through the information network, HRC would really act as the "SHP Home of the Asia-Pacific" and serve the member countries more effectively. We have done the following concrete things:

    Define the domain name of HRC and the columns. The columns include Hot News, Dynamic Information, successive and current Directors of the Center, Introductions of HRC's Sections/Divisions, Public Services, Friendly Links in the Sector both at home or abroad, Regulations and Principles, Small Hydro Power and its Equipment and Market, etc.

    2. HRC publishes its quarterly magazine <SHP News> in English and distributes to around 90 countries in the world.

    VI. The working plan of 2003

    The main goal of 2003 is to further motivate and strengthen the international cooperation and activities, revitalize HRC and its position in the Asia-Pacific region. Apart from continually implementing the international SHP training workshop, we will further explore to widen the international SHP technical cooperation and transfer it into both economic and technical cooperation. Meanwhile, we will bring into full play the regional center, conduct the macro-view SHP study and probe the reform and policies in the Asia-Pacific countries, and provide reference for policy decision in the higher authorities in China.

    1. Training of international small hydro power

    1.1 Implement well the SHP training workshop for further enhancing HRC's celebrity at home and abroad.

    1.2 Take efforts to conduct a SHP training workshop for African participants in collaboration with the World Bank in 2003 or 2004.

    2. International conference

    2.1 Striving for holding an international conference on SHP within the coming two or three years with the aim to exchange international SHP technology and experience, publicize the achievement and experience of SHP development in China, explore potential market opportunities for HRC and increase its position at home and abroad for consolidating its orientation of institutional unit. An overseas collaborator is to be selected and fixed in 2003.

    2.2 HRC will send SHP specialist to Japan to attend the World Water Forum in the coming March to introduce the SHP development in the Asian developing countries. The paper is ready

    2.3 HRC will send SHP specialist to the United States to attend the international water power conference in the coming July to introduce the practical and reliable SHP automation technology. The paper is being prepared.

    3. Implement actively the SHP international economic and technical cooperation to promote the transfer from TCDC to ECDC

    3.1 Complete the work for the pumped storage plant in Mongolia in terms of finance, feasibility study, preliminary design etc.

    3.2 Promote the SHP automation cooperation with Vietnam.

    3.3 Implement the equipment installation and consultation work for Corojo and Moa SHP stations in Cuba.

    3.4 Continue to import and indigenize the SHP automatic controlling equipment from Canada and disseminate it in developing countries.

    3.5 Dispatch SHP experts to African for SHP consultation missions in collaboration with the World Bank.

    3.6 Trace and settle the ongoing projects of SHP consultation, equipment export and engineering contracting etc including with India, Indonesia, Greece, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica and Canada etc. and strive to open new channels of SHP cooperation.

    4. Conduct research on international SHP soft science

    Put more efforts on the research of the macro SHP policies, and strategies in the Asia-Pacific countries to provide consultation to Chinese governments for stipulating the foreign-oriented SHP policies and South-South cooperation. The research items include:

    4.1 Make use of the South-South cooperation frame and realize "go global" strategy in field of SHP development.

    4.2 Research on the SHP modernization.

    4.3 Research on the SHP development in the Asia-Pacific countries.

    5. Others

    5.1 Substantiate HRC's homepage with the area of focus on SHP data bank in the Asia-pacific region and the SHP equipment & market, contributing more to the exchange of global SHP technology and experience.

    5.2 Continue to edit and publish the English quarterly <SHP News>.

    In the speech delivered at Zhejiang University in mid October, the United Nations Secretary General K. Annan mentioned that right at Hangzhou you make use of Hangzhou Regional Center where you have shared your valuable rich experience in the field of renewable energy with those from the numerous developing countries in the world. You are playing a pioneering role in the regional technical cooperation with the developing countries. You developed a lot of cooperative projects not only in foreign countries, but also you have generously implemented training workshops for those from the developing countries. Advance with the time and let's strive for bright future of HRC and SHP!