KOH KONG, Cambodia — After more than 10 years at the China Huadian Lower Stung Russei Chrum Hydro-Electric Station in southwestern Cambodia, Keat Makara, 35, has become a highly skilled hydropower technician.

Makara joined the 338-megawatt plant in 2013 and received training from Chinese experts, a journey that transformed him from an electrician's helper into a specialist in hydropower operations. He now serves as assistant director of the plant's power generation operation department.

"The job has changed my life and greatly improved my family's livelihood," he told Xinhua News Agency on Monday.

Before joining the project, Makara worked as a construction electrician's assistant and as a dockworker at a dry port, struggling to make ends meet.

"Making a livelihood at that time was very difficult," he said.

Today, Makara is responsible for training Cambodian staff members in power generation operations.

"I've gained extensive knowledge of hydropower generation, which is a source of clean energy," he said.

Makara said all employees undergo three months of training on safety protocols and technical skills before taking up their posts.

Speaking about his Chinese colleagues, he said they are friendly, willing to share their experience and always ready to lend a hand when challenges arise.

Launched in December 2013 after nearly four years of construction, the hydropower station comprises two dams, with the upper dam standing 125 meters high and the lower one 58.5 meters.

With a total installed capacity of 338 megawatts and a designed annual output of 1.2 billion kilowatt-hours, the facility is a flagship project of China's Belt and Road Initiative in Cambodia.

Soem Phanit, an employee in the plant's Power Generation Operation Department, said he has worked at the station for about four years, rising from an electrical apprentice in Phnom Penh to a skilled technician.

He recalled that life had been extremely difficult before he joined the company, and that there were days when he had nothing to eat.

"Since joining the company, I have been very happy," he said."The pay is higher than my previous job in Phnom Penh, and my living expenses are low because the company provides both accommodation and meals."

Strict adherence

Phanit said the three-month pre-job training was essential because it requires strict adherence to safety procedures and a thorough understanding of equipment operations.

"Without proper knowledge, danger can arise in an instant," he said.

"I'm deeply grateful to China Huadian for its investment in Cambodia, which significantly improves local livelihoods and creates valuable jobs," he said.

Thong Mengdavid, deputy director of the China-ASEAN Studies Center at the Cambodia University of Technology and Science, said the hydropower station has not only helped stabilize power supply amid global fuel volatility, but also become a platform for technology transfer and skills development for Cambodian workers.

As global oil prices surge, the China Huadian Lower Stung Russei Chrum Hydro-Electric Station provides Cambodia with "a vital economic anchor through its stable supply of clean energy", he said.

"Beyond physical infrastructure and technology, the project invests heavily in human resource capital, with Chinese experts training Cambodian operators to master advanced power systems," he added.

XINHUA