In the Kingfisher oil field in the Lake Albert area on the western border of Uganda, workers are working hard. This is Uganda's first commercial oil project and also China's largest investment project in Uganda.

On February 1, 2022, the Kingfisher Oilfield Development Project in the Albert Lake District officially started comprehensive construction. As the builder of the oilfield project, Tian Yu also witnessed the arrival of this moment. He said: Uganda is mainly based on agriculture and fishery. Although it has oil reserves, due to the weak industrial system, they do not have the ability to independently exploit oil. We all hope that the construction of the Kingfisher Oilfield can free Uganda from dependence on oil imports and improve the overall life of the Ugandan people.

At the beginning of 2022, Tian Yu, who has worked in CNOOC for more than ten years, accepted the appointment and came to CNOOC Uganda as the manager of the public relations department. As the only Chinese expatriate among the 12 members of the public relations department, Tian Yu supports and struggles with Ugandan colleagues at work.

Tian Yu said: Our department has a tradition that no matter which employee in the department celebrates his birthday, everyone will spontaneously buy a cake for him, and simply hold a small celebration on the company's rooftop or in the office. Although it is a relatively simple act, it is also a very heart-warming act.

Tian Yu at the project site

Tian Yu recalled that in the early days of the oilfield project, the living conditions of the residents around Lake Albert were extremely difficult. They could only live in thatched huts, and they had to climb mountains and cross cliffs to carry water. Therefore, while promoting the construction of the oil and gas industry system, the company also actively fulfilled its corporate social responsibilities. It not only built water diversion projects, but also invested in the construction of spacious and sturdy resettlement houses for local residents. Now, their lives are full of singing and laughter.

Tian Yu said: The resettlement houses we built for local residents are all three bedrooms and one living room, 110 square meters. In order to practice the concept of environmental protection, we have equipped each house with a solar power supply system and a centralized water supply system, so that the residents can feel the oil belt. Give them good. When we handed over the keys to one of the villagers, he told me that living in such a house was beyond their dreams. It was safe, clean and comfortable, and had a separate kitchen and bathroom. They lived in a thatched cottage before, and sometimes when they were cooking and lighting the fire at the door, a gust of wind would burn the house down, and the family could only eat and sleep in the open, or pick up some straw to build a new house.

Local residents live in resettlement housing

In his work, Tian Yu took the initiative to give full play to the advantages of young people. Under the framework of the All-China Youth Federation's Dream Silk Road youth development plan, aiming at the reality of Uganda's low education rate and high unemployment rate, a multi-level and multi-faceted youth Employment Support Program.

Tian Yu said: We train local people through several levels. Welders, heavy truck drivers, etc. These belong to the relevant training in the oil and gas field that we provide to local employees or local contractors. The second category is local service skills training. We target young people in the surrounding communities of the project and let them receive some popular local skills training, including auto repair, hairdressing, sewing and other skills training. The third category is that we have specially contacted local government agencies to carry out training for teachers in different regions of Uganda, including trainers from training institutions, to improve their skills and promote sustainable employment.

Oilfield project provides skills training for local youth

Tian Yu is also committed to strengthening the cooperation between schools and enterprises in his work, and has trained many young talents in the Ukrainian oil and gas field. He said: We have funded 8 Ugandan university students to study in China. Lamack is a typical representative of an overseas student we sponsored before. He was studying in China and won the title of outstanding graduate. After returning to Uganda, the company hired him as a drilling and completion engineer. CNOOC became acquainted and was very willing to work in the company. In the past two years, I have also gained rapid training and growth. Lamack's experience has also successfully attracted young Ugandan students to recognize CNOOC, and inspired more Ugandan young people to contribute wisdom to the rise of Uganda's oil industry.

Tian Yu works with Ugandan colleagues

Youth is the hope of China-Africa relations. Tian Yu said that the young people in Uganda are young and energetic, representing the future development of the country. Building a platform for communication and dialogue among young people can help China-Uzbekistan relations achieve better development.

Tian Yu visits local children regularly

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Youth has become a new force in building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, carrying the mission of continuing the future development of China and Africa and China and Africa. Tian Yu said that he will continue to contribute his youth and work with Ugandan youths to draw concentric circles in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Tian Yu: We hope to drive more Chinese-funded enterprises in Uganda and Africa to carry out social responsibility projects together, so that we can work together on the road of building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, so that the achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative can be achieved. More and more tangible benefits to the people of the two countries. I also hope that through the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, the friendship between China and Uzbekistan and China and Africa will be further deepened, especially the friendship between the youths of China and Uzbekistan can be enhanced; I also hope that more young people like me can participate in this work , Contribute more youth power to the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the promotion of friendship.Editor/Ma Xue