Pakistani engineers contribute to major Laos-Vietnam power project
VIENTIANE – POWERCHINA completed the installation of all 133 wind turbine generators for the 600-megawatt Monsoon Wind Power Project, the company confirmed. The project, spanning the border between Laos and Vietnam, involved an international workforce during its construction phase. Among them were engineers and professionals from Pakistan. Interviews conducted by Gwadar Pro with several Pakistani staff provide details about their involvement. Danyal Vighio, identified as a Mechanical Team Leader, stated approximately 24 Pakistani professionals were on site as the turbine installation phase concluded.
He described their responsibilities as encompassing civil, QA/QC, mechanical, and electrical engineering, along with health and safety, planning, and contract management. According to Vighio, this included managing multinational teams and addressing civil design work in mountainous terrain. “Many of these professionals, including myself, previously worked with Chinese companies on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)’s wind power projects in Jhimpir region of Sindh province, gaining valuable experience, which we applied effectively in Laos,” Vighio explained in the interview. He also reported internal company recognition for some Pakistani team members. Vighio cited an “Outstanding Performance Award” he received related to mechanical installation leadership. Similar awards were noted for Asif Ali, an Electrical Engineer, concerning electrical systems execution, and Waqar Khattak, a QA/QC Engineer, for quality control practices. Sajid Aziz, working as a Civil QA/QC Engineer, mentioned his prior experience on energy projects in Pakistan before moving to the Laos site. He noted initially, about 40 Pakistani staff were deployed.
As the project advanced, Aziz said some colleagues were assigned to other POWERCHINA projects in locations including the UAE, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Uzbekistan.
Regarding the working environment in Laos, Aziz stated, “[POWERCHINA provides] us with all facilities, including our religious and cultural needs and food choices, which make us feel at home and very comfortable.”
Eng. Ehtishamul Haq, who worked on civil structures for the turbines and substations, described his interactions positively, stating, “They have a sense of how to give respect to professionals.”
The Monsoon project aims to become one of Southeast Asia’s largest wind power facilities upon full completion.