Where there is water on earth, there is life, and all life activities originate from water. Water is an indispensable and important resource for human survival and development, and water plays an important role in people's lives. However, in many parts of Africa, people often have to walk more than ten miles in order to drink water, and carry back several buckets of muddy muddy water. The survival of a family, including the drinking water of domestic livestock, depends on this muddy muddy water. Many women here have been backing water since childhood, and one back is a lifetime. One might ask, why didn't they dig wells? Some people may say that Africans are lazy. In fact, this is not the most fundamental reason. The main reason is that due to the special geographical structure of Africa, it is particularly difficult to dig wells locally. Even if a well is dug, there may not be water. The corresponding funds and technology make it even more difficult for them to drill wells by themselves.

Senegal is a small country in Africa, known as the "Horn of West Africa". It is located at the westernmost tip of the prominent part of West Africa and is one of the more densely populated countries in West Africa. The central and eastern regions are mostly semi-desert areas, and the maximum temperature in the dry season can reach 45°C. In rural areas far from cities, the water supply facilities are often outdated, and the basic living water of the villagers cannot be guaranteed all the year round. Obtaining drinking water is a perennial problem that people have to face. Some herders need to walk for hours to reach the nearest water point. In some places, they need to dig holes in the dry riverbed to find relatively clean water for themselves and their animals. water source. In the past, there was only one well in the village, and people queued up to fetch water every morning. Residents of neighboring villages even had to walk more than two kilometers to fetch water here. The queuing time would last from early morning to midnight, preventing many young people in the village from going to school.

After the rainy season, the village of Bahrain in the Giulbele district of Senegal looks particularly hot and desolate. At first glance, the simple thatched houses where the villagers live are connected to the surrounding land, only a water tower erected high in the village is particularly conspicuous. This well is part of a well-drilling project in rural Senegal, financed by China, and a well of happiness on the African continent. In the water supply machine room next to the water tower, Diom, a villager in Bahrain Village, is carefully wiping the water supply equipment, checking the operating condition, and filling the engine with oil.

Diom is a well coordinator for CGCOC Senegal's rural well drilling project and is responsible for maintaining the well in Bahrain village. He witnessed the implementation of the well drilling project in rural Senegal, and also saw the changes this well brought to the local area. In front of the old well in the village, Diom said: "It used to be too difficult to fetch water. There is only one well here, and there is a lack of maintenance all the year round. One lacks funds, and the other lacks technology, so it is really difficult to dig a well here." To solve the local drinking water problem and help the local people to drink clean and hygienic well water, China has built a large number of wells for the Senegalese people, covering many areas.

The well-being of African people has always been an important part of China-Africa cooperation. Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed China-Africa "Ten Cooperation Plans" at the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. China will focus on supporting Africa to overcome the three major development bottlenecks of lagging infrastructure, lack of talent and lack of funds, speed up the process of industrialization and agricultural modernization, and achieve independent and sustainable development. Senegal responded positively, and China and Senegal immediately launched project docking. Since then, the rural well drilling project has become one of the measures taken by China and Serbia to implement the "Ten Cooperation Plans".

Chinese Well Drilling Team Enters the Horn of West Africa

On March 5, 2017, the construction of the rural well drilling water supply infrastructure project in Senegal, undertaken by Sinopec Nova Petroleum Corporation's subsidiary CGCOC, officially started. A local villager was full of expectations for the rural well drilling project. In time for the rain, I believe that soon, we will be able to drink sweet tap water like city dwellers."

Many villagers gathered near the drilling site in Bahrain Village. They turned the bucket over and beat the beat, the children couldn't help dancing, and the women washing their clothes laughed happily. Zhang Shaohua said: "Chinese workers often help local villagers to weld horses and carts, repair planters, transport goods, etc. The villagers also help the Chinese employees to wash their clothes, brush their shoes, deliver their own livestock, and provide accommodation for the Chinese workers. ." The Chinese workers and the local people became one.

According to reports, the rural well drilling project involves 12 of the 14 regions in Senegal, building and rebuilding 261 wells for rural areas, building 181 water towers, laying 1,800 kilometers of water supply pipelines, and supporting 270 drinking water troughs for livestock. Each water supply system includes wells, water towers, water transmission and distribution pipelines and water distribution facilities, with a maximum daily water supply scale of 80,000 cubic meters. Benefiting from the project, more than 2 million Senegalese people can enjoy clean drinking water at their doorsteps, creating employment opportunities for more than 3,000 local people, and fostering a group of engineers and technicians. A new symbol of mutually beneficial cooperation.

During the execution of this project, its harsh climate environment, backward infrastructure and complexity far exceeded the imagination of the drilling team. It was very difficult to find water sources in the desert. weeks. In addition, the well drilling projects are located in rural areas, with complex geological conditions and deep water levels. Collapses and slurry leakage often occur. In addition to the poor traffic conditions in rural areas, especially in the rainy season, the transport vehicles will fall into yellow water. In the mud, the equipment had to be moved into the village one by one, which brought a lot of difficulties to the project. Wei Rui, who was in charge of the contract performance of the Senegal project, recalled: "No matter what difficulties encountered, the Chinese drilling team has always adhered to the attitude of quality first and service first, and made a good start in the early stage of the project. During the training, the team members overcame various difficulties and sincerely served the local people." It was appreciated by the local people.

September 20, 2018 was a big day for the village of Bahrain, as Diom and the villagers witnessed the inauguration of a new well. After three years, with the unremitting efforts of the well drilling team, the deep-water well drilling project in each village was successfully completed in March 2021. At the same time, the rural well drilling project in Senegal has passed the acceptance of the Senegalese government. This project is the beginning of a project of benefiting the people in China to solve the practical difficulties of millions of rural people in Senegal. It has greatly improved the quality of drinking water and sanitary conditions for the rural people in Senegal and living standards, so that the local people live a happy life with drinking water at their doorstep.

Rural well drilling projects help the Belt and Road

It is imperative for African countries to increase investment in water infrastructure to ensure access to healthy and safe drinking water. A well-drilling project aided by China has helped Senegal solve this problem. After the completion of the project, the water shortage problem that has plagued the local area for many years has been solved, bringing tangible benefits to the Senegalese. According to estimates by the Senegalese Ministry of Water Resources, the 251 wells constructed by China will increase the availability of drinking water in rural areas of Senegal to 91%, greatly improving local drinking water sanitation and reducing the incidence of diseases.

"As long as I can work with the Chinese, I will be very happy." Said Sheikhna, a 41-year-old employee of China-Serbia International, who has built 11 wells in rural Senegal with the well-drilling team and accumulated rich experience. Sheikhna eats and lives with the Chinese workers on weekdays, and likes to eat instant noodles brought by the Chinese workers. Sometimes, he can stay overnight with a temporary bed next to the construction site. He said that because of the rural well drilling project, the Chinese have a very high status in the eyes of Senegalese. Every time the well is completed, the local villagers will sing and dance when they see clean water coming out of the well. He was still impressed by the scenes of the carnival celebrations. At the most, a village killed 8 sheep.

Zhang Shaohua also recalled his previous experience after drilling a well: "The night before the water came out, in the middle of the night, there were villagers lining up with buckets, waiting for the moment when the water was drawn from the well at dawn." The workers got up in the morning to prepare for the water pumping experiment. When I saw the long queue waiting for the water, I was surprised. After pumping out the water, everyone helped the villagers fill up the buckets. They poured the water on their bodies while filling the water. Women and children crowded over and cheered together.

The well was completed, and Diom, as a well coordinator, faithfully performed his duties every day, and also truly realized the real changes brought by China-Africa cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative to the local area. Diom sincerely thanked the Chinese government for building this "well of happiness" for the villagers. He said: "I am very grateful to Chinese friends for bringing happiness to our village and the Belt and Road Initiative. I sincerely hope that the friendship between Serbia and China will last forever and create a bright and happy future for the children."

Rural well drilling project composes love between China and the United States

The Senegalese rural well drilling project aided by China is of great significance, and it has written a profound friendship between Senegal and China. China's assistance to Senegal is not only in the economic aspect, but also in the people's livelihood. Since then, President Xi Jinping has successfully paid a state visit to Senegal, which has opened a new chapter in the relations between the two countries. The previous competitive wrestling hall, the Thies Highway, and the well-drilling project that is still being implemented all show that China pays attention to what the Senegalese people really need. At the same time, China has brought comfortable and considerate help to Senegal. A symbol of deep friendship between nations.

Now, China is Senegal's second largest trading partner and largest peanut importer, and the bilateral trade volume has expanded 16 times in 10 years. China is the largest source of financing for Senegal, and the projects such as the Fangjiuni Bridge and the Thies-Tuba Expressway financed by China will strongly promote the economic development of Senegal. The rural well drilling project financed by the Chinese side will build 251 wells and 1,800 kilometers of pipelines, which will solve the problem of water for one-seventh of Senegal's population and make important contributions to Senegal's people's livelihood and economy.

The President of Senegal said: The rural well drilling project is the star project of Senegal's "Emergency Plan for Rural Development". Well-drilling water supply projects all over the country will truly provide strong support for the development of local agriculture and rural areas. "We thank China for thinking what Senegal thinks and what Senegal is anxious for, and providing comprehensive support for this project. As the Chinese saying goes, 'When you drink water, don't forget the man who digs the well', we will continue to work on developing a special friendship with China in the future. relationship, promote the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries to a new level, and promote the comprehensive and sustainable development of the Belt and Road Initiative." Let us work together to push forward China-Serbia cooperation along the path of mutual benefit and win-win! China and Senegal are united! Editor/Zhao E