The first phase of the MaFeiTeng Photovoltaic Power Station project. People's Daily reporter Dai Kairan captured the neatly arranged photovoltaic panels spreading out on the green meadow amidst the undulating hills. Under the clear sky, the deep blue photovoltaic panels reflect dazzling light. In the southwest of Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, the Mafuteng Photovoltaic Power Station Phase I project, undertaken by Chinese companies, provides a more stable power supply for the people of Lesotho and injects a continuous stream of energy into the local economic and social development. Improving energy facilities to alleviate power shortages. As we enter the first phase of the MaFeiTeng Photovoltaic Power Station project, the first thing that catches our eye is a brand new substation with silver gray power equipment arranged in rows. In the project office next to the substation, operation and maintenance personnel are carefully recording the power generation situation of the power station in front of the screen. Li Xiaoguang, the Chinese operation and maintenance engineer of Mafeiteng Photovoltaic Power Station, introduced to our reporter that the power of the photovoltaic power station is converted into voltage by the substation and connected to the Lesotho National Grid through transmission lines. On a sunny day like today, the daily electricity generation can reach 200000 kilowatt hours, equivalent to the daily electricity consumption of 20000 ordinary households, "said Li Xiaoguang. Lesotho is known as the "Kingdom of Mountains" and is rich in solar, hydro, and wind energy resources. But the country's industrial foundation is relatively weak, with about 40% of its electricity supply relying on imports. The Lesotho government regards the development of the new energy industry as an important direction for achieving energy self-sufficiency. The Mafeiteng Photovoltaic Power Station project is the first large-scale photovoltaic power station project in Lesotho and an important step in Lesotho's efforts to develop the new energy industry. Chen Dawei, the project manager of Mafeiteng Photovoltaic Power Station, introduced that the first phase of the project started in 2020, mainly including a 30 MW photovoltaic power station, 55 kilometers of transmission lines, and supporting facilities such as substations. In April 2023, the project will complete all debugging work and be connected to the grid for power generation. As of the end of February 2025, the project has generated over 100 million kilowatt hours of electricity cumulatively. According to the plan, within a 25 year cycle, the power station will generate a total of 1.317 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, with an average annual power generation of over 52 million kilowatt hours, "said Chen Dawei. The smooth operation of Mafeiteng Photovoltaic Power Station is a great event worth celebrating Lesotho Prime Minister Matkane stated that energy is a crucial development area for Lesotho, and the country looks forward to further strengthening cooperation with China to steadily achieve energy self-sufficiency. Lesotho's Minister of Natural Resources, Molomy Moleko, said that the project has greatly reduced Lesotho's electricity pressure, lowered the cost of electricity for residents, and reduced the risk of power outages. At around 10am, the operation and maintenance personnel from China and Laos completed their routine inspection work and returned to the office from the photovoltaic field to cultivate photovoltaic talents to support green development. I have a question to consult. "Mo Hali, the operation and maintenance engineer of the first phase of the project, discussed with the Chinese operation and maintenance personnel about the relevant issues of power distribution. This is the first large-scale new energy project I have participated in, and I am deeply proud of this job. Since its operation, the photovoltaic power station has met about 16.6% of the country's electricity demand, bringing more brightness to our lives Mohali said. Under the guidance of Chinese engineers, Mohali delved into the technology of photovoltaic power generation and gradually mastered the management methods of new energy projects. During the construction phase, Chinese engineers taught me how to install photovoltaic panels, debug electrical equipment, etc. After entering the operation and maintenance phase, the rigorous and meticulous management methods of the Chinese team benefited me greatly. "Mohali said that photovoltaic power generation technology is a new thing in Lesotho, and" learning the operation and maintenance skills of photovoltaic power plants has given me a technical expertise. It is reported that after grid connection and power generation in April 2023, Mafeiteng Photovoltaic Power Station will enter a 3-year operation and maintenance service period. The Chinese team is collaborating with Lesotho Power Generation Company to train local photovoltaic engineers, helping them to independently operate and maintain photovoltaic power plants in the future. The Chinese team has rich experience in maintaining photovoltaic power plants and is willing to patiently and meticulously help us grow Mamelo, the public relations manager of Lesotho Power Company, said. At present, the Laifang team has 10 local photovoltaic engineers, and two are in the probationary stage, "Mamelo said." The power station project provides important support for the development of the photovoltaic industry in Lesotho. "Providing employment opportunities to fulfill social responsibility, the Mafuteng Photovoltaic Power Station is located in Ramalotole Town, about 10 kilometers away from Mafuteng City, and there are many villages around the power station. In Ma Kaineng Village of the town, the reporter met with villager Aoma, who had previously participated in the construction of a photovoltaic power station. I participated in the construction of office buildings, installation of electrical equipment, and other work with other villagers in the village Recalling this experience, Oma said that this job gave her income and improved the economic situation of her family. "I learned how to build walls and can also do simple electrical repairs. I can continue to find jobs with these skills and pay for the tuition of my two children." When it comes to the changes brought by the photovoltaic power plant to the local area, Oma said, "Nowadays, the number of power outages has decreased. With electricity, restaurants can also operate at night, and many merchants' businesses have improved." It is reported that during the project construction period, more than 1000 local employees were employed, covering various occupations such as civil construction, electrical installation, equipment debugging, and operation and maintenance management. A series of skill training, job practice, etc. have not only improved the technical level of Lesotho's local labor force, but also reserved a large number of skilled workers for the country's new energy industry. Assist in building community football fields to provide sports facilities for local youth; Distributing food gift packages and conveying warmth and care to local disadvantaged groups... While ensuring the orderly progress of the project, Chinese enterprises also actively fulfill their social responsibilities and give back to the local community. Thanks to the photovoltaic power station project undertaken by Chinese enterprises, MaFeiTeng has ushered in a new chapter of development Mayor of Mafuteng City, Lelotoli Saiso, stated that the project has provided job opportunities for local residents and driven the development of related industries. "The Chinese side has passed on the operational experience of photovoltaic power plants to local engineers, helping them become the backbone talents for building new energy projects in Lesotho. We look forward to more Chinese companies coming to Lesotho to invest and develop, and to help achieve more results in practical cooperation between Lesotho and China