Xinhua News Agency, Conakry, June 10 - Feature: 60 Years of Light – The Persistence and Legacy Behind Guinea's Jinkou Hydropower Station
Xinhua reporters Zhang Jian, Zeng Tao, Liu Qiong
Deep in the Fouta Djallon highlands, the Kokouro River cuts through the mountains. At dawn, amidst the steady hum of generators, currents of electricity flow from the Jinkou Hydropower Station into the national grid, reaching towns and villages across Guinea.
On June 9, 1966, the Jinkou Hydropower Station, built by China Communications Construction Company's China International Water & Electric Corporation (CWE), was officially handed over. This landmark project was a grant from the Chinese government to Guinea, the first complete hydropower station provided by China as foreign aid, and the first built after Guinea's independence.
For 60 years, the station, with a total installed capacity of 3,400 kW, has operated continuously, generating an average annual output of 16 million kWh. It has long ensured electricity for production and daily life in the regions of Pita, Labé, Dalaba, and Mamou, earning it the affectionate nickname "Pearl of the Night" by locals.
As a symbol of China-Guinea friendship, the Jinkou Hydropower Station has been printed twice on Guinean franc banknotes. After 60 years of weathering the elements, the station not only continues to light up countless homes but also witnesses the story of joint development written by generations of Chinese and Guinean workers through sustained effort.
"I originally thought I'd return to China after completing the first phase, but I ended up staying for 15 years," said Hu Yang, the project leader who has been involved in technical assistance at Jinkou since 2011. He said his wish is to do the project well and keep the station running smoothly. Over the years, the project team has fulfilled China's promise of "reliable, trustworthy, and sustainable" aid.
What kept Hu Yang there, besides his sense of responsibility, was the friendship built with locals through daily interactions.
Once, a local village chief came specially to the Chinese camp, bringing anti-malaria drugs and protective supplies. "The chief said, 'You are also members of the village, our brothers, and we must ensure your health,'" Hu recalled.
Furthermore, local vegetable farmers would save the freshest produce for the Chinese team, and Chinese engineers, when passing through villages, would help residents check and repair wiring.
Through years of association, the station has transcended its engineering significance, taking on warmth and value. "Being able to participate in maintaining the continuous operation of Jinkou for 60 years is the pride of my career," said Hu.
The current station director, Denbandouno Péllico, said Chinese and Guinean technicians have become a taciturn team. "Whether for daily work or equipment troubleshooting, we study and solve problems together."
Thanks to continuous training and guidance from the Chinese team, mature experience and technology have been passed down. More and more Guinean technicians have now grown into the backbone of station operation and management.
"I sincerely hope this cooperation can continue and that the ties between Guinea and China grow even closer," said Péllico, expressing a hope that cooperation in the hydropower field could expand to more regions of Guinea, benefiting more people.
Souleymane Diallo, a 73-year-old retired engineer, is a witness to the development of the Jinkou station. What impressed him most was the tremendous improvement in local life after its inauguration.
"The greatest contribution of Jinkou is that it truly brought electricity to the local people," Diallo said. "Everyone was very excited at that time. For the first time since independence, we had such abundant and stable power, with basically 24-hour supply."
Having witnessed the completion of Jinkou as a child, Diallo later became an engineer and participated in the construction of the Kaléta and Souapiti hydropower stations.
CWE Guinea Co., Ltd. said that since the 1960s, the company has been rooted in Guinea, involved in major projects such as Jinkou, Kaléta, and Souapiti. Among them, Kaléta and Souapiti are known as Guinea's "energy twin stars," currently providing about 80% of the country's electricity supply, offering crucial support for local energy security, livelihood improvement, and green development.
Under the setting sun, the Kokouro River glistens, and the generators in the station's powerhouse run steadily. Sixty years ago, this place ignited the light of modern industry in the Fouta Djallon highlands of Guinea. Sixty years later, it continues to supply a steady stream of green energy for local economic and social development.
Like the ever-flowing river, the friendship and cooperation embodied by this "Pearl of the Night" continue to shine in the new era, illuminating the future of China-Guinea joint development.
