On August 4, as the water flow of the Kushan River drove the generator unit to emit its first roar, and clean electricity crossed the Gobi Desert to connect to the power grid, it marked the official grid connection and power generation of the first unit of the Xinjiang Kurgan Water Conservancy Hub Project, constructed by the Sinohydro Bureau 3 Co., Ltd.

The Kurgan Water Conservancy Hub Project is located in Akto County, Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture, in the middle reaches of the Kushan River. It is a national mountain-area controlling backbone hub project under China's 14th Five-Year Plan, one of the 150 major water conservancy projects designated by the State Council, and a major livelihood and public welfare project for the three counties in the Kushan River irrigation area to consolidate poverty alleviation achievements and advance the rural revitalization strategy.

Facing multiple challenges during construction, the project team strictly controlled key stages such as unit installation, commissioning, and trial operation, organizing meticulously and constructing scientifically. They held multiple technical special meetings to tackle difficulties, reversed the schedule to meet milestone deadlines, and strengthened overall coordination, achieving a one-time pass for the thermal stability tests of both units, with the maximum runout of the upper guide, lower guide, and water guide bearings of both units at less than six hundredths of a millimeter, and successful zero-balance-weight startup and operation of both units, completing construction tasks at each stage to high standards. The grid connection and power generation of the first unit not only demonstrated the superb professional technical level of Sinohydro Bureau 3 and enhanced its brand influence in electromechanical installation, but the project team's selfless dedication and tenacious work style also won high praise from all participating parties.

2025 is the final year of construction for the Xinjiang Kurgan Water Conservancy Hub Project and a critical year for sprinting toward the power generation goal of "four units put into operation in one year." Xinhua News Agency's client reported in December 2024 on the project's achievement of gate closure and water impoundment. The project team will take the grid connection and power generation of the first unit as a new starting point, stay committed to the goal of full power generation without slackening,压实 safety and quality responsibilities at every level, always uphold the philosophy of "build a power station, erect a monument," efficiently advance subsequent construction tasks, and bring the project construction to a successful conclusion.

The project is expected to be fully completed in 2026. By then, it will add 69 million cubic meters of water supply annually to Akto County, Yingjisha County, and Shule County in the Kushan River basin, raising the agricultural irrigation guarantee rate in the Kushan River irrigation area from 40% to 75%, greatly enhancing the stability and reliability of agricultural irrigation. At the same time, using the water discharged from the reservoir for power generation, it will deliver 85 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually to Kashgar and Kizilsu Kirghiz Prefecture, strongly promoting the optimization of the local energy structure and sustainable development.