The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in September 2024 was successfully held, elevating the overall positioning of China-Africa relations to a new-era comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership as an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future. Efficient and pragmatic China-Africa cooperation in various fields has been further deepened. Sany Group, as one of the representatives of local enterprises in Hunan Province, has gone through years of development in Africa. During the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, People's Daily Online interviewed Xu Zhongtian, Assistant President of Sany Group and General Manager of Microgrid Investment Company. Focusing on topics such as microgrid project practices and new energy industry planning, the interview explored how Chinese enterprises can continue to leverage their advantages to inject new vitality into China-Africa cooperation under the new-era framework of China-Africa cooperation.

People's Daily Online: In recent years, Sany Group has continuously expanded its business in the African market. Could you describe, or use a set of key figures to show, Sany Group's development footprint and achievements in Africa?

Xu Zhongtian: In terms of construction machinery, the value of mechanical equipment exported by Sany Group to Africa reached 5 billion yuan in 2024, with the cumulative total export value exceeding 20 billion yuan. In 2024, we began to enter the microgrid market and launched a complete set of solutions for power production. Up to now, we have signed nearly 20 projects, with a cumulative sales volume of nearly 1.8 billion yuan.

People's Daily Online: Could you briefly introduce the innovations of this microgrid project? What are the main application scenarios or industries for these microgrid devices in Africa?

Xu Zhongtian: Abundant sunlight is a unique natural advantage for African countries in developing the new energy market. African countries have an average annual sunshine duration of 2,000 to 2,500 hours. In view of this condition, Sany's industrial layout in Africa focuses on photovoltaics, and then links with energy storage to launch an overall solution for photovoltaic microgrids.

Africa has a relatively weak power grid infrastructure, and the launch of microgrid solutions can address electricity issues in many scenarios across Africa on both the power generation and distribution sides.

On the power generation side, microgrids solve the problems of difficult and expensive electricity access in various scenarios through the integration of sources, grids, loads, and energy storage, covering mining, residential communities, and industrial zones.

On the electricity consumption side, we adhere to the group's "three orientations" strategy – globalization, digital intelligence, and low carbonization. We advocate for the conversion of all construction machinery and equipment to electric power, such as large excavators, electric mining trucks, and electric dump trucks, to promote low-carbon development.

To give an example, we have a local project in Africa with an annual output of 50,000 tons of copper ore. Previously, the electricity used for mining and smelting came from diesel generators, which was costly and could not be connected to the mains power. Now, through our microgrid solution, we have developed an off-grid system tailored to the needs, solving approximately 95% of the electricity problems. It provides over 16 million kWh of electricity annually, reducing the enterprise's electricity costs.

People's Daily Online: You have participated in several sessions of the Forum on China - Africa Cooperation and the China - Africa Economic and Trade Expo, witnessing the practical development and cooperation opportunities. What new feelings and opportunities has this expo brought to you and your enterprise?

Xu Zhongtian: China - Africa cooperation has become increasingly close on the basis of seeking truth and being pragmatic. The expo set up exhibition areas and forum areas, inviting high - net - worth enterprises and customers from target African countries, enabling Chinese enterprises to conduct more efficient face - to - face negotiations. The ambassadors of Zimbabwe and Malawi to China both mentioned that the China - Africa Economic and Trade Expo is not only a government - to - government platform, but also an enterprise - to - enterprise one. Malawi is mainly an agricultural country, hoping to find Chinese importers for products such as soybeans through the expo. Zambia is mainly engaged in the mining industry, with 179 registered mining companies, of which more than 35% are Chinese - funded enterprises. They hope that Chinese investors can bring smelting technology and help them solve the power - consumption problem. The China - Africa Economic and Trade Expo not only brings benefits to Chinese - funded enterprises, but also enables them to more effectively participate in the construction and development of African countries. By continuously exerting efforts in their advantageous fields, it promotes the further deepening of China - Africa cooperation.