As one of China's earliest enterprises to venture into overseas power projects, Harbin Electric Corporation (HEC) has continuously advanced integrated governance in environment, safety, health, and social responsibility (ESHS). While aligning with international markets, the company has fully leveraged its role and responsibilities as a state-owned enterprise. Recently, the international projects of Harbin Electric International (HEI), a subsidiary of HEC focused on overseas projects, achieved further recognition: the Rumah 2 Project in Saudi Arabia won the Distinction Award at the International Safety Awards presented by the British Safety Council, while the Syrdarya II Project in Uzbekistan and the Bhikki Operation & Maintenance Project in Pakistan both received Merit Awards. Previously, the Hassyan Power Plant Project in Dubai was honored with the Distinction Award in 2024.

From the deserts of the Middle East to the grasslands of Central Asia, and from project construction to full lifecycle operations and maintenance, HEC's overseas projects have continued to set benchmarks in safety and green development within the global energy engineering sector. Through ESHS governance capabilities that integrate Chinese standards with international practices, these projects have become exemplary models of compliance-driven operations, green delivery, and strengthened people-to-people connectivity among Chinese state-owned enterprises along the Belt and Road.

Anchored in Safety: Building a New Landscape for International Safety Governance

Safety is the cornerstone for the steady and sustainable development of overseas projects. HEI has always upheld the principle of "putting people and life first" and strictly followed the requirements of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC)'s three-year action plan to strengthen workplace safety and the "Ten Rigorous Measures" for work safety. By deeply integrating OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards, IFC (International Fire Code) international standards, and the laws and regulations of host countries, HEI has established a standardized, routine-based, systematic, intelligent, and deeply embedded overseas safety management system. Through comprehensive and full-process safety controls, the company ensures the stable and efficient operation of its overseas projects.

HEI has strictly implemented a comprehensive work safety responsibility system covering all employees. By signing safety and environmental protection responsibility agreements, refining individual responsibility checklists, and conducting regular performance assessments and accountability reviews, the company has established a closed-loop mechanism for implementing safety responsibilities.

Focusing on enhancing safety capabilities among all employees, HEI has established a tiered, comprehensive, and routine overseas safety training system tailored to the safety responsibilities and requirements of different overseas positions. The company regularly conducts a wide range of training programs, including three-level safety education for new employees, safety awareness and warning education, specialized pre-departure safety training, and skills enhancement programs for special operations personnel. By leveraging online learning platforms, HEI has expanded training coverage and improved training effectiveness. The Hassyan Project has conducted more than 110,000 safety training sessions in total, while the Syrdarya II Project has provided training coverage for over 13,000 participants, significantly enhancing safety awareness and capabilities across the workforce.

The company also actively implements its "technology-driven safety" strategy by establishing a two-tier digital site management system featuring coordinated oversight at headquarters and on-site execution at key overseas projects. By integrating core functions such as AI-based intelligent monitoring, digital work permit management, VR safety training, and online hazard identification and rectification, HEI has enabled more visualized, digitalized, and refined safety management across its overseas projects. Among these efforts, the Bhikki Operation & Maintenance Project in Pakistan took the lead in implementing an intelligent O&M management model. The project established a cloud-based integrated intelligent inspection system and deployed intelligent inspection robots, achieving accurate and comprehensive inspections with zero blind spots across 3.27 million working hours. Leveraging big data and AI algorithms, the project continuously optimizes inspection processes, standards and solutions, significantly improving the efficiency and quality of equipment operation and maintenance at overseas power plants and further strengthening the foundation of intrinsic project safety.

Fulfilling Green Responsibility: Building a Chinese Model for Ecological Protection

HEI has consistently integrated the concept of green development throughout the entire lifecycle of its overseas projects. The company strictly implements local ecological protection requirements and focuses on key areas including green construction, ecological restoration, and low-carbon emissions reduction. Through targeted and professional environmental protection measures, HEI safeguards local ecosystems overseas and strengthens the green development credentials of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Adhering to the principles of "planning first and compliance as a priority," the company conducts in-depth assessments of local ecological conditions and carefully studies environmental protection laws and regulations during the project planning and preparation stages. It proactively engages internationally recognized environmental consulting organizations to scientifically develop specialized plans for environmental impact assessments and construction environmental management, continuously improving the top-level design for ecological protection throughout project implementation. Major projects, including the Hassyan Project in Dubai and the Manzanillo Project in Mexico, strictly adhere to local ecological protection requirements. By integrating environmental control measures into every stage of construction, these projects have strengthened the foundation for green development of overseas operations through professional and standardized practices.

Tailored to the distinct ecological conditions of each project location, the company has implemented targeted ecological protection and restoration initiatives to safeguard regional biodiversity. Located in an ecologically sensitive protected area recognized by the United Nations, the Hassyan Project in Dubai has completed the scientific transplantation of 28,850 coral colonies and the relocation of 2,066 native lagoon fish. It has also installed more than 10 kilometers of pollution prevention barriers and established a full lifecycle monitoring and conservation program for endangered hawksbill sea turtles, creating a safe habitat for marine species to thrive and reproduce. Focusing on coastal and mountainous ecosystem conservation, the Manzanillo Project in Mexico has replanted 188 native-adapted trees and donated 2,178 saplings. A dedicated professional team has been established to conduct regular wildlife patrols, rescue operations, and relocation efforts for species such as iguanas and snakes, contributing to the preservation of regional ecological balance.

HEI has fully implemented green construction practices across its overseas projects, routinely carrying out environmental protection measures such as waste sorting, water resource management, dust control, and air quality monitoring. The company continues to optimize construction processes to reduce resource consumption and pollutant emissions. Meanwhile, it actively promotes advanced low-carbon technologies to achieve efficient power generation and cleaner emissions reduction. The Hassyan Project in Dubai adopts ultra-supercritical power generation technology, achieving over 98% efficiency in desulfurization and denitrification and essentially realizing the goal of near-zero-emission construction. The Bhikki Project in Pakistan has achieved a unit thermal efficiency of 61.61%, far exceeding the industry average. These green practices have received high recognition from the UAE marine environmental organizations, local governments, and communities, fully demonstrating the commitment of Chinese enterprises to green responsibility and ecological stewardship.

Empowering Local Communities: Delivering a Shared Future Through Mutual Benefit and Win-Win Development

Guided by the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, HEI integrates local social responsibility into the entire lifecycle of project construction and operations. The company actively promotes local employment, talent development, community support, and cultural exchange, contributing to stronger people-to-people connectivity between China and overseas communities through practical initiatives, while demonstrating the warmth and commitment of a Chinese central state-owned enterprise.

The company adheres to a high-level localization employment model, establishing joint Chinese and international management teams. While sharing China's advanced construction practices and management experience, HEI actively promotes local employment and develops local technical talent. Through regular skills training programs, the company provides local employees with professional expertise in areas such as power construction, safe operations, and equipment operation and maintenance, helping cultivate a skilled workforce to support the development of the host countries' power industries. Since the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, HEI has created more than 19,000 jobs in project host countries and facilitated over 26,000 instances of labor deployment. Among these efforts, local employees have consistently accounted for more than 50% of the workforce at the Syrdarya II Project in Uzbekistan; the Bin Qasim Phase III Project in Pakistan has created more than 3,000 local employment opportunities; the Bhikki Operation & Maintenance Project in Pakistan has trained over 70 local operation and maintenance management professionals; and the Minas Project in Ecuador has provided nearly 2,700 local jobs. Through these initiatives, HEI has effectively leveraged project development to drive local economic and social progress.

Centered on projects and carried out through public welfare initiatives, HEI has continuously conducted community engagement and support programs in host countries, addressing local needs and helping resolve practical challenges faced by communities. At the Manzanillo III Project in Mexico, the company proactively donated daily necessities to local communities and provided supplies to a community primary school. At the Syrdarya II Project in Uzbekistan, the team visited a local children's hospital to offer care and assistance to children receiving medical treatment. At the Nairyah 2 Project in Saudi Arabia, the company took the initiative to improve local infrastructure by installing lighting facilities and safety warning signs along an unlit access road, effectively enhancing travel safety for nearby residents. Through a series of heartfelt public welfare initiatives, HEI has ensured that the benefits of the Belt and Road Initiative are shared with local communities, further strengthening friendship between China and other countries.

Guided by cultural leadership, HEI is committed to building a borderless overseas cultural ecosystem. To overcome cross-border language barriers, the company has developed a bilingual Chinese-English Visual Manual for Construction Work Safety, a six-language Safety Warning Guide for Hazardous Operations, and bilingual Chinese-English induction training animations, comprehensively promoting the standardized and visualized implementation of overseas work safety management. In 2025, the company's short video "Sand & Medals: the Dreamweaver's Safe Expedition" won the BRI Co-builders Award at the Seventh Belt and Road Initiative Short Video Competition. Another production, "Journey of Pioneering a Power Plant in Uzbekistan," received the Excellence Award in the Dedication and Commitment category at the Sixth Central SOE Social Responsibility Core Values Theme Microfilm (Micro Video) Competition. These achievements have become shining showcases of Chinese enterprises' global endeavors.