2016/04/28

“Photovoltaic+” Multi-model Works Well
CMIG is Praised for Innovative Poverty Relief Project

On April 28, CMIG Chairman of the Board of Directors, Party Secretary of CMIG Mr. Mao Yonghong, President of CP Group Mr. Xie Guomin, Mr. Ajva Taulananda, and the Vice-Presidents of the CP Group, Mr. Yang Xiaoping and Mr. Boonchai Opas-iam-likit, led a team of 33 people to the new-energy model base in Yanchi, Ningxia. The trip was a field survey of the photovoltaic+ model and witnessing the progress it had made thus far. The team also met with government officials from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The innovative Photovoltaic+ Model created by CMIG has been highly recognized by government officials and enterprise leaders in Ningxia. Since the day it was founded, CMIG has been devoted to achieving unity of social and economic values. The photovoltaic project in Yanchi has made notable progress through solar energy economies of scale, launching poverty relief projects in many supporting industries.

In August 2014, the world’s single largest photovoltaic project was formally contracted in Yanchi, with a total planned size of 2GW and a phase-one planned size of 1GW. The first-batch of 350 megawatt electricity will be generated when connected to the grid. In the meantime, to respond to the state’s call for zero poverty by 2020, CMIG conducted thorough and systematic research on 74 poverty-stricken villages in Yanchi. Based on this research, CMIG has developed multiple models for the Photovoltaic project to help Yanchi eliminate poverty by 2018.

Model 1: photovoltaic + village power stations. Based on grid connection and photovoltaic land conditions of each village in Yanchi, CM New Energy will set up model power stations in all 74 poverty-stricken counties. The estimated investment is 1.88 billion RMB, and after the grid is connected, the village is guaranteed 20 years of prepaid collective electricity bills through the next 20 years. The power station in Changliudun Village has already been established, and the electricity bills will be used to improve village infrastructure and the quality of life of those who live there.

The completed Changliudun anti-poverty photovoltaic power station

Model 2 (Improve villagers interest): photovoltaic + housing renovation. CM New Energy will invest 135 million RMB in the Beautiful Villages project involving five villages (Nanliang, Gujiquan, Huangjitai, Fanjiquan and Shijiquan), 406 households, and 1269 villagers. Special households will also be selected for housing renovation. Besides modern housing facilities, these households will be equipped with farming zones suitable for raising Tanyang, the local sheep. In Nanliang village, a 200-square-meter Party activity center has also been built where internet has been set up to help villagers learn more about the Party, the internet, and agriculture and animal husbandry.

An old residence in Nanliang village is pictured in the back, and the one in the front is a newly built house. Quality of life has greatly improved.

Mr. Sun Furui, Party Secretary of Nanliang village, introduces the blueprint of Nanliang village

Model 3 is widely favored by migrant worker villagers. It is a “Photovoltaic + job opportunities” model. At least one person from each household in the local area can be guaranteed a job in the photovoltaic project by CM New Energy as long as they have working skills. Residents of Yanchi have priority in finding jobs in CM New Energy’s industries. Mr. Sun Furui, Party Secretary of Nanliang village, said that since the end of last year, many migrant workers who had been working in other cities returned home since they could also find decent jobs that pay well here.

Staff from CM New Energy check on the site’s photovoltaic panels.

Model 4 (new): photovoltaic + finance. CMIG has signed an agreement with the Yanchi government in which both parties will jointly invest 660 million RMB to establish a Tanyang Sheep Guaranteed Fund. Through a PPP model and leverage, the fund will support the development of local agriculture and husbandry by encouraging villagers to raise, process, and sell Tanyang sheep so that they can earn more money than before.

Supported by the guaranteed fund, villagers have found another important source of income: raising Tanyang sheep

After the visit in the morning, officials and leaders from CMIG, CP Group and the Yanchi government held in-depth discussions on photovoltaic + anti-poverty projects, the CMIG Tanyang Sheep Guaranteed Fund, the poverty relief guaranteed fund, and the Tanyang cultivation project. Mr. Han Qinghao, President of CM New Energy, said that the photovoltaic + poverty relief project launched in Ningxia was just the first step. CM New Energy hopes that such innovative poverty relief projects would establish precedence for effective anti-poverty projects. In the future, CMIG will work with its partners, such as the CP Group, to keep promoting the models nationwide. CMIG will use its strengths as a private enterprise to improve poverty relief projects in scale and achieve its goal of unifying social and economic values.