The photo shows a Chinese engineer (middle) instructing a South Sudanese engineer on how to control and maintain the newly built power sub-station in Juba, capital of South Sudan, on Dec. 16, 2019. (Xinhua/Denis Elamu)

Chinese engineers are mentoring South Sudanese technicians to take charge of the power sector in the future when they hand over several state-of-the-art electricity infrastructures built by PowerChina.

JUBA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese engineers are mentoring South Sudanese technicians to take charge of the power sector in the future when they hand over several state-of-the-art electricity infrastructure built by Chinese energy firm, PowerChina since 2016.

Bul Kuir Gak, a 39-year-old South Sudanese technician working with the South Sudan Electricity Corporation (SSEC) is one of the few technicians attending the ongoing intensive training being conducted by technicians from the Chinese firm in Juba.

Gak has worked since 2006 with the government power utility agency which is being revamped after being inactive for decades due to lack of technical capacity. He said he has learned a lot of knowledge on the latest technology on control and maintenance of the newly built power sub-station by PowerChina which will be handed over to his group to maintain when the Chinese engineers leave the country.

"We are doing training about the control system of the electricity project. These are new technology and we have read some theory, but now we are doing practicals. We are going to be able to control and maintain the power sub-station in the future," Gak told Xinhua on Monday in Juba.

The photo shows South Sudanese engineers listening to instructions by a Chinese engineer working with PowerChina on how to control and maintain the newly built power sub-station in Juba, capital of South Sudan, on Dec. 16, 2019. (Xinhua/Denis Elamu)

In recent years, PowerChina has also participated in the construction of power plant in the country, and undertaken other related work such as erecting power poles and replacing vandalized power lines in Juba.

Majok Anei Wek, a 32-year-old graduate of electrical engineering at the University of Juba, said that the training has benefitted them immensely and added that more of these training by Chinese energy experts should continue because they lack enough technical engineers to operate the power facilities in the country.

Clement Morbe, another electrical engineer attending the training, expressed optimism that he and his peers will complete the 10-day training with improved technical skills and knowledge on advanced technology on the operation of transformers and power panels.

"I can see something big coming out of this training with PowerChina. If they continue to give more training to South Sudanese here, I think our people will get more knowledge and be able to have the capacity to do the same thing that PowerChina is doing," he said.

The photo shows Chinese engineers from PowerChina posing for a group photo after conducting training for engineers from the South Sudan Electricity Corporation (SSEC) in Juba, capital of South Sudan, on Dec. 16, 2019. (Xinhua/Denis Elamu)

Yonos Zewde from the Juba Distribution Corporation, which is partnering PowerChina to improve and expand the electricity distribution and coverage in the country, also told Xinhua that this training is preparing a transition which will help South Sudanese.

"We are partners with PowerChina and we are working on the distribution, metering and billing. I came for this training to prepare for the handover of this sub-station because when the Chinese engineers leave, we need to know how we can operate this sub-station and how to function these panels," said Zewde.

Ma Liansheng, chief engineer with PowerChina in South Sudan, said the training is preparing talented South Sudanese engineers to take full charge of the country's nascent power sector as the country embarks on several projects to develop its energy sector.