Aerial photo taken on July 17, 2020 shows the construction site ofthe Nam Theun 1 hydropower project in Borikhamxay Province, Laos. A group ofChinese builders have been working day and night in the vast Lancang-MekongRiver Basin with strengthened measures on fighting COVID-19, pressing forwardthe construction of the China-Laos Railway to forge a thriving Lancang-MekongCooperation (LMC) Economic Development Belt. (Sinohydro 3/Hangout via Xinhua)
A group of Chinese builders have been working day and night in thevast Lancang-Mekong River Basin with strengthened measures on fightingCOVID-19, pressing forward the construction of the China-Laos Railway to forgea thriving Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Economic Development Belt.
The China-Laos Railway is one of the key projects in the economicdevelopment belt. Braving the hardship posed by the mountains and forests innorthern Laos, the PowerChina Sinohydro Bureau 3 Co., LTD (Sinohydro 3), one ofthe Chinese engineering companies participating in the construction of therailway, has spared no efforts in the construction.
To prevent the infection of the virus, the project departmentestablished an epidemic prevention and control working group to monitor theimplementation of the precautious measures, such as purchasing protectivematerials, disinfecting the construction base twice a day, working outstaggered meal times, building isolation dormitories, raising awareness aboutthe epidemic, and providing accommodation for local staff on the constructionsite, among others.
These effective measures have secured the smooth progress of theconstruction of the railway. In February, drilling of the Sa Len No. 1 Tunneland the Dalong No. 1 Tunnel were completed as planned. From March to August,the drilling of the Dalong No. 2 and other three tunnels along the China-Laosrailway were also completed on time, laying a solid foundation for the railwayto be opened to traffic in 2021.
In Laos' Borikhamxay Province, the construction of the 650-MW NamTheun 1 Hydropower Plant on a tributary of the Mekong river is progressing inan orderly manner.
The Nam Theun 1 hydropower project is a key project jointlydeveloped by the Lao and Thai governments. The construction of the power plantand related transmission lines are respectively carried out by Sinohydro 3 andChina Gezhouba Group.
Jie Xiangyang, the Sinohydro 3 project manager, told Xinhuarecently that the project was progressing steadily.
On April 26, the company cast 11,508 cubic meters of rollercompacted concrete, breaking its record in Laos. On May 8, 13,792 cubic metersof concrete was cast and its daily casting quantity record in Southeast Asiawas updated. On May 21, the company set a new record for casting 15,356 cubicmeters of concrete in one day.
The Chinese engineering company, which entered the constructionsite last December, has carried out hard work to gain the achievements.
In view of the large number of workers returning to Laos fromabroad, the Sinohydro 3 coordinated arrangements for personnel entry plans andimplemented personnel information tracking for epidemic prevention.
Meanwhile, as the delivery of some equipment from abroad wasaffected by the epidemic, the company tried its best to coordinate and finallymanaged to get the equipment by air transport before Laos closed its borders.
In response to a series of lockdown measures in Laos, which causeddifficulties in equipment and material supply, the company activelycommunicated with the project investor and relevant government departments tomake sure the construction is carried out smoothly.
In face of the tight project schedule caused by the early settingin of this year's rain season in Laos, the Chinese technical staff conducted adetailed review and improved the construction plan according to the actualsituation.
"At the front line of the epidemic prevention and control, wemust be on standby around the clock... We should not let our guard down againstany emergencies," said Li Xupeng, a safety manager of the Nam Ou 1Hydropower Plant, which is one of the seven Nam Ou River cascade hydropowerplants developed by PowerChina on Mekong's largest tributary in Laos.
Editor: Galia
