VARGEM GRANDE PAULISTA, Brazil — From Marcelo Indame's perspective, the San Lorenzo Water Supply Project is making tremendous contributions to the state of Sao Paulo, host of Brazil's most populous city.

"The strong water supply capacity of 6 cubic meters per second provided by the project, which is operated by China Gezhouba Group Co Ltd, undoubtedly makes an important contribution to the state," said the general manager of the San Lorenzo water supply company.

Since it began commercial operation in July 2018, the project, located in the state's municipality of Vargem Grande Paulista, has provided a safe and reliable clean water supply for nearly 2 million residents in seven cities in the region.

In addition, more than 4,000 jobs were created and the municipal roads along the project were greatly improved during the project's peak construction period.

Qi Zexu, general manager of CGGC Brazil Co Ltd, said that since the project began operation, it is not only the five-year period in which CGGC made a stable contribution to the water supply for the people of the state of Sao Paulo, but the period in which China and Brazil worked together to deepen its BRICS cooperation.

"Big Chinese companies come to Brazil and contribute their resources to invest here, which is very important and consistent with the needs of Brazil and the state — the timing is just right," said Indame.

Large cities need solutions that include energy, water, solid waste treatment, municipal transportation and other livelihood services, said Andre Salcedo, CEO of Sabesp, a water and wastewater management company serving the state of Sao Paulo.

"Our cooperation with CGGC is a step in this direction. Such projects can be expanded and improved within the investment program of the Sao Paulo state government to provide better services to the people," Salcedo added.

CGGC has also carried out donations and volunteer activities in local communities, orphanages and nursing homes while supporting staff education and training, local health and environmental protection, students' extracurricular activities and more.

Samanta Souza, deputy head of the state's Department of Environment, Logistics and Infrastructure, said the project provides efficient and high-quality services to locals.

"In 2019 and 2020, there was a lack of rainfall in the Sao Paulo metropolitan area, but we were not aware of it," she said. "This is precisely because we already have the security of an integrated water supply system that consists of the project and seven other large water plants."

Souza believes that the state can use the expertise of companies such as CGGC to study new possibilities for producing energy in such large plants.

"In addition to introducing investment, such partnership also brings about much-needed technical exchanges, which makes the state more modern and brings the best benefits to the local environment and people," she added.

Xinhua