Under the scorching sun of the Mesopotamian Plain, the Iraq Amara Simple-Cycle to Combined-Cycle Power Plant Project (hereinafter referred to as the "Amara Project"), undertaken by Harbin Electric International (HEI), stands as a solid cornerstone of energy, continuously delivering light and hope to thousands of households across Iraq. Recently, with the official issuance of the Final Acceptance Certificate, the project has achieved full handover after successfully completing its two-year warranty period. This project is not merely an upgrade and transformation of a power plant; it is a critical milestone on Iraq's path toward energy independence. Moreover, it serves as a vivid example of Chinese enterprises deeply practicing the Belt and Road Initiative and advancing practical and in-depth cooperation.

From its inception, the Amara Project has carried the high expectations of both China and Iraq. Cui Wei, the Chinese Ambassador to Iraq, visited the site in September 2022, encouraging the project team to demonstrate the "capability and strength of Chinese construction, as well as the responsibility and commitment of Chinese enterprises." On August 10, 2023, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani cut the ribbon for the power generation, praising its strategic value in "providing more electricity without additional fuel" and calling it "another significant achievement for Iraq's energy independence." Mainstream Iraqi media, such as Al-Iraq, extensively covered the project, focusing on the project's profound impact on ensuring Iraq's energy security. The high-level attention and media focus together underscore the substantial importance of the Amara Project.

The core value of the project is directly reflected in the tangible improvement of the local people's well-being. In Maysan Governorate, where the Amara Project is located, summer temperatures often soar to 55 degrees Celsius, and power shortages were once a major problem for local residents. By upgrading the original simple-cycle power plant to a 750 MW combined-cycle power plant, the Amara Project has greatly improved power generation efficiency and stability, effectively ensuring grid security during peak electricity consumption and bringing relief from the sweltering heat to millions of people. At the same time, the project created a large number of employment opportunities for the local community during its construction and operation phases, and cultivated a group of skilled power technicians. More profoundly, adhering to its "Triple-Role" positioning and responsibilities as an equipment manufacturer, system integrator, and O&M service provider, HEI signed an O&M contract with the owner to systematically train local Iraqi power operation and maintenance talent, ensuring the long-term stable operation and technical inheritance of the power plant, and truly embodying the principle of "Better teach a man how to fish than give him fish."

The success of the Amara Project lies not only in the delivery of technology and the output of electricity, but more importantly in the integration of cultures and the resonance of emotions. HEI took the initiative to build a bridge for communication, inviting the chairman of Rafidain Bank, Iraq's largest state-owned commercial bank, and senior officials from the Ministry of Electricity to visit Harbin Electric Corporation and its three major manufacturing plants. Through in-depth face-to-face exchanges and on-site inspections, HEI comprehensively demonstrated its profound cultural heritage and advanced product strength to its Iraqi partners, laying a solid foundation of mutual trust for long-term cooperation. In June 2020, at a difficult time when Iraq was facing an extreme shortage of anti-epidemic supplies, HEI swiftly mobilized and delivered precious materials, including 14,000 sets of protective clothing, 500,000 pairs of medical gloves, 75,000 masks, and 25,000 goggles, providing timely support to Iraq's frontline anti-pandemic efforts. This act of providing timely assistance went beyond the scope of business cooperation, embodying the spirit of sharing weal and woe. It earned high praise and sincere gratitude from the Iraqi project owner and all sectors of society, vividly illustrating the profound friendship of the Chinese and Iraqi people working together in solidarity under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.