China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) in Chad has long been dedicated to the well-being of communities surrounding its oilfields. To address the critical need for clean drinking water, CNPC has been implementing the “Sweet Water for Communities” public welfare project in Koudalwa, near the Ronier Oilfield for many years.
The initiative has provided safe and reliable drinking water to a large number of residents, effectively meeting their needs and attracting more people to settle in the surrounding areas.
CNPC drilled its first well in the town of Koudalwa in 2011 and, since then, the company has drilled 129 wells free of charge for nearby communities, providing clean and safe drinking water to approximately 40,000 residents across 47 villages surrounding the oilfield operations area. Local officials have praised the initiative as “the most popular public welfare project among the people”.
Inspired by CNPC’s efforts, other enterprises, such as Anton Oilfield Services Group, have joined the “Sweet Water for Communities” initiative, offering materials, maintenance services and other forms of support. This collective effort has amplified the impact and reach of the project.
In addition to the project, CNPC has synchronized the implementation of a number of other public welfare initiatives, closely aligning them with the development needs of surrounding communities.
In the field of education, CNPC constructed Hope Primary School in Koudalwa in 2011, the only public school within a hundred miles. Over the past decade, the school has become a well-known institution in the area, with the student population growing from 50 to 250.
CNPC has also constructed roads connecting Djouman to Koudalwa, Ronier to Mogo, and several others in Miltou while maintaining community roads near the oilfields year-round.
In the area of healthcare, CNPC has donated 1,600 mosquito nets to 21 villages around the operation area to stop the spread of malaria, donated a women’s and children’s ward to the Bousso area, invested in the establishment of a temporary mobile clinic in Bongor, and donated medicines to three clinics in the Sedona community.
The town of Koudalwa was originally a small village with fewer than 500 residents. With the establishment of wells and schools in the area, many people have relocated their families to live near the oilfield. Gradually, a commercial hub centered around Koudalwa has emerged, with bus stations, convenience stores, hardware stores, farmers’ markets and gas stations springing up like mushrooms after the rain. Today, Koudalwa has a permanent population of around 5,000 and has been transformed into a bustling town known far and wide.
Over the years, five major settlements, including Ronier and Baobab, have developed around the oilfields, each featuring regular markets. These settlements have injected new vitality into the local economy, significantly improving the standard of living in surrounding communities and spurring rapid development in nearby villages and towns.
The cooperation project is a significant endeavor of CNPC’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. The company seeks to uphold the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, proactively fulfilling its corporate social responsibility by supporting local community development and improving livelihoods.
