At 9 pm on June 30, 2021, local time, the first large-scale hydropower station invested and developed by PowerChina in Zambia in 40 years, and the largest single-unit infrastructure construction project at present-the first unit of Xiakaifuxia Hydropower Station was connected to the grid Power generation. Xiakaifuxia Hydropower Station installs 5 Francis generator sets with a total installed capacity of 750 MW. The dam of the power station is a roller compacted concrete gravity dam with a height of 130.5 meters and a crest length of 374.5 meters. The total amount of concrete pouring is 1.3 million cubic meters, which is the largest roller compacted concrete dam in Zambia.

As a model project of the Belt and Road Initiative and the No. 1 project of China-Zambia cooperation, after the project is completed, it will increase Zambia’s existing electricity by 38%, change Zambia’s energy structure, alleviate the power shortage caused by climate change, and greatly promote the local area. Economic and social development will improve the power guarantee capacity of the southern African power grid. Xiakaifuxia Hydropower Station installs 5 Francis generator sets with a total installed capacity of 750 MW. The dam of the power station is a roller compacted concrete gravity dam with a height of 130.5 meters and a crest length of 374.5 meters. The total amount of concrete pouring is 1.3 million cubic meters, which is the largest roller compacted concrete dam in Zambia. After the project is completed, it will increase 38% of Zambia’s existing electricity, greatly promote the local economic and social development, and improve the power guarantee capacity of the southern African power grid. As the lead party, the 11th Hydropower Bureau formed a joint venture with the Northwest Research Institute to general contract the project construction tasks, and the Fifth Hydropower Bureau participated in the construction of the project. The project has received much attention from the Zambian government and the Chinese Embassy in Zambia. On November 28, 2015, President Edgar Lungu of Zambia attended the handover ceremony of the project site and expressed high hopes for the construction of the project.

Keywords: overseas engineering, engineering news

The engineering construction is actively transforming from made in China to created in China, innovatively designed and completed the "seven holes and one well" "world's first surge tank", and developed key green construction technologies with strong protection, weak excavation, and less disturbance. The safe, high-quality, high-efficiency, and green construction of space-limited dams provides key technical support. Using laser-controlled mechanical automatic leveling system and DAMS-IV intelligent distributed engineering safety monitoring system, the key technology of high-quality and efficient RCC dam construction has reached the international leading level. The key technology of rock utilization in the confined space of the hydropower station has reached the international advanced level and has been praised by the internationally renowned RCC dam experts. In the construction of the project, it has successively obtained 8 national patents, 3 provincial and ministerial construction methods, and 2 software copyrights. It has proposed a complete set of control methods and technologies for China's overseas hydropower construction from precise survey, dynamic design to fine construction. In terms of environmental protection, 3.843,000 liters of diesel was saved, and carbon emissions were reduced by 3,189 tons. PowerChina not only teaches people how to fish, but also teaches people how to fish. Up to now, the training school has trained more than 300 skilled personnel in measurement, welding, repair and other skills for the local area. At the same time, the local government, owners and communities have donated materials to fight cholera and new crown pneumonia on many occasions, which are highly praised by the embassy and the Southern Provincial Government of Zambia.Editor/Xing Wentao