STORY: Chinese-built power plant light of hope for war-torn Iraq
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 7, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 9, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:56
LOCATION: Baghdad
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Wasit Power Plant
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LIU ZAIHUI, Deputy Chief Engineer of Wasit Power Plant, Shanghai Electric
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): OMAR RAJI, Engineer of Wasit Power Plant
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LYU GUOQING, Executive project manager of Wasit Power Plant, Shanghai Electric
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): ALI YOUSSIF, Engineer of Wasit Power Plant
6. SOUNDBITE 5 (Arabic): MOHAMMED JASSIM, Deputy Director of Wasit Power Plant

STORYLINE:

The Chinese-built Wasit Power Plant, located in Wasit Province, Iraq, is the largest thermal power plant in the country, generating electricity for tens of thousands of families and bringing the light of hope to this war-torn country.

The power plant has six generator units boasting a total installed capacity of 2,540 megawatts. At the peak of its power generation, it ensured 70 percent of the power supply in the capital Baghdad while providing the entire country with 30 percent of its power needs.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LIU ZAIHUI, Deputy Chief Engineer of Wasit Power Plant, Shanghai Electric
"As Iraq's largest thermal power plant, Wasit Power Plant has generated nearly 150 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to date. At the peak of its power generation, it provided the entire country with 30 percent of its power needs, and Iraq's power supply has been significantly improved."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): OMAR RAJI, Engineer of Wasit Power Plant
"I live in the town of Zubaydiyah. In the past, when we were young, the electricity supply used to last for perhaps four hours or less sometimes. Now, after the operation of the Wasit Power Plant and the arrival of the Chinese workers who began to work and complete this project, the electricity supply now has lasted for more than 23 hours per day, and the power cut lasts for less than half an hour. I think this is a good thing for the residents of the town as well as the residents of most Iraqi areas."

The Chinese-built plant has also made contributions to the economic and social development of Iraq.

The project has created nearly 3,000 jobs for locals, and trained many Iraqi engineering construction and power technical talents.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LYU GUOQING, Executive project manager of Wasit Power Plant, Shanghai Electric
"Under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Wasit Power Plant has not only greatly alleviated the power shortage problem that had plagued Iraq for a long time, ensured the stability and security of Iraq's electricity supply. It has also created many jobs for locals, and trained many Iraqi electricity technicians."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): ALI YOUSSIF, Engineer of Wasit Power Plant
"During my short period working with Shanghai Electric, I gained from the company a lot of experience and skills in the field of mechanical engineering and energy, as they shared with me a lot of information."

SOUNDBITE 5 (Arabic): MOHAMMED JASSIM, Deputy Director of Wasit Power Plant
"Iraq has been facing a major problem in providing electricity to citizens, and this station makes a great contribution to providing electricity and clearly improves the electrical energy condition in Iraq.
This station is considered one of the largest thermal power stations in the Middle East, so we are very grateful to the Chinese company and the Chinese government for implementing this project."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Baghdad.
(XHTV)