Supported by State-owned enterprises, some major projects between China and the United Arab Emirates have resumed operation and gained noteworthy progress, despite challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The No 1 generator unit of the Dubai Hassyan 4x600 megawatt clean coal-fired power project in the UAE began full-load operations earlier this month, marking a significant milestone in the construction of the first clean coal power plant in the Middle East, according to its main contractor－Heilongjiang province-based Harbin Electric Corp, or HE.

To guarantee stable operations of the No 1 generator unit, HE's team set up a 24-hour shift for monitoring operations in order to quickly respond if any problems occur.

In addition to operating the unit, the No 2 unit and equipment pipes of the main power facility have been operating and the placement of the main transformer has been completed, which was appreciated and affirmed by the project owner Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.

The Hassyan plant is a major international cooperative project related to tangible development of the Belt and Road Initiative. Important progress has been achieved in the construction of all the units in the second quarter, said Duan Tengfei, HE's project manager, adding that other engineering and subsystems are also progressing on schedule.

As a key project that plays an important role in supporting the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, Duan said the Hassyan power plant is the first investment project by the Silk Road Fund in the Middle East, and will also be the first clean coal power plant in the region when it is completed.

The project is equipped with four ultra-supercritical units with a total installed capacity of 2,400 MW. It has the ability to completely consume coal or natural gas as a backup feedstock. All four units will enter commercial operation in 2023.

After being put into operation, they will not only provide 20 percent of the power needs of Dubai, but also greatly reduce electricity costs for locals. With the goal of starting partial operations this year, it will provide power supply guarantees for Expo 2020 Dubai, which has been rescheduled until late next year, said HE, a centrally administered SOE.

Shanghai Electric Group, a locally administered SOE, also announced last month that it completed the Molten Salt Receiver tower in the UAE, the tallest such structure in the world, in a record 240 days.

It is part of Dubai's DEWA IV phase 700 MW concentrating solar power and 250 MW photovoltaic hybrid project. The project currently is the world's largest photothermal and photovoltaic integrated power plant project, covering an area of 44 square kilometers. More than 4,000 construction workers from many countries such as Pakistan, India and China have participated in these projects.

Abdulhameed Al Muhaidib, the project's executive managing director, said this has been a fairly challenging project, especially with the important extra tasks related to keeping people healthy and safe.

Shanghai Electric, the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for Noor Energy 1, the project owner, has supplied personal protective equipment to all workers and implemented procedures for virus prevention and control.

The equipment is about 40 meters high and is mounted on top of the heat tower body, which is about 222 meters high. It will provide green energy for 320,000 households when completed, cutting carbon emissions by 1.6 million metric tons annually.

"The successful intake of the MSR has enabled Shanghai Electric to accumulate valuable experience and laid a solid foundation in the field of concentrating solar power," said Liu Minghua, executive deputy general manager of Shanghai Electric Power Generation Engineering Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Shanghai Electric.

The Middle East unit of Beijing-based China State Construction Engineering Corp, another central SOE, recently announced the completion of an infrastructure upgrade project near Dubai Hills Mall with a contract value of 1.53 billion yuan ($218 million). The project includes road upgrades and the construction of surrounding municipal pipeline networks.