Reporter: Qin Ruijie
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Ahmed (first from the left) introduces the development of the factory's new energy industry to visitors. Photo provided by the interviewee
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Production line scene of Ningxia Hanas Liquefied Natural Gas Co., Ltd. Photo provided by the interviewee
In 2019, British-Pakistani Mashhad Ahmed set foot on Chinese soil for the first time. For over 30 years prior, his footprints spanned four continents and 12 countries, from Qatar to the United States, from Italy to Australia. This time, he arrived in Yinchuan, Ningxia, to serve as the factory manager of Ningxia Hanas Liquefied Natural Gas Co., Ltd.
&#34;I never imagined China would be like this.&#34; More than six years later, Ahmed still remembers the surprise he felt upon his arrival. This senior engineer, who has been in the global liquefied natural gas industry for nearly 40 years, has witnessed China's green development and integrated his profound observations on energy green transformation into daily factory management.
First Encounter—
A &#34;First Glance&#34; That Defies Imagination
In 2012, Hanas Liquefied Natural Gas Co., Ltd., located in Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, established a liquefied natural gas production base, using a total contracting process from a French company. In 2019, Mashhad Ahmed, an experienced engineer with international experience, was invited by Hanas to Ningxia to serve as the technical plant manager.
Before coming to China, Ahmed's understanding of this land was almost entirely derived from Western media. However, when he actually set foot on Chinese soil, all his imaginations were overturned. &#34;The images of China depicted by some Western media are very different from the actual situation here,&#34; he recalled.
&#34;The airport staff are very friendly, and the efficiency is high; people on the streets always wear smiles and are willing to help. When you come to China, you will find that it is completely different from what you imagined based on Western media portrayals,&#34; Ahmed said.
Local people are inevitably curious when they see foreigners. &#34;In restaurants, they often take the initiative to chat with you,&#34; Ahmed laughed, &#34;Chinese children you meet on the street always excitedly ask where you are from and what you are doing, and then say 'Welcome to China' when you say goodbye.&#34;
When Ahmed first arrived in China, the biggest difficulty he faced was payment and transportation. &#34;In other parts of the world, I was used to using credit cards, booking hotels, and hailing taxis myself. But at that time in China, the first thing I discovered was that many credit cards were not applicable.&#34; Later, the company's staff helped him set up WeChat and mobile payment accounts and also helped him install ride-hailing apps. &#34;Using digital means is much more convenient than credit cards; now, it has become my routine to use an app to hail a taxi home after work from the factory.&#34;
Now, Ahmed has fully integrated into local life. &#34;When I travel for work, I can enter the station by scanning my passport without needing a paper ticket, which is very convenient.&#34; Over the past few years, he has visited Helan Mountain multiple times to see rock paintings, toured art museums in Yinchuan, and even climbed Liupan Mountain. &#34;In the summer, I take a vacation by myself to travel around the surrounding provinces.&#34;
&#34;In my opinion, Yinchuan is one of the best cities in the world.&#34; Ahmed commented on the city where he has lived for more than six years. He believes that Yinchuan has well-developed infrastructure, is surrounded by lakes and waterways, has many parks and green spaces, and boasts quality schools and restaurants, making it &#34;clean, peaceful, and livable.&#34;
Observation—
Experiencing the green transformation of the energy industry
As a senior engineer with nearly 40 years of experience in the liquefied natural gas industry, Ahmed has unique insights into China's energy sector.
&#34;The industry I manage is a high-risk industry, and safety is the most important thing,&#34; Ahmed said. His first impression of China is that production safety has reached an unprecedented height here.
Hanas Liquefied Natural Gas Co., Ltd. is one of the largest liquefied natural gas production bases in western China, mainly engaged in the production, storage, transportation, sales, and refueling station services of liquefied natural gas, and also plays an important role in peak shaving and supply assurance for urban gas in Yinchuan. As the plant manager, Ahmed's daily work includes production operation management, equipment maintenance, safety supervision, and team coordination.
&#34;In this industry, one end is production, and the other end is residents' lives; safety comes first,&#34; Ahmed said. To ensure production safety, Hanas has established a standardized management system, implemented a safety production responsibility system for all employees, and organized emergency drills every month. In addition, the plant monitors the entire operation status in real-time through information technology means such as distributed control systems, safety instrument systems, and gas detection systems. Ahmed introduced that over the years since the plant was established, there have been no safety production accidents.
&#34;The level of emphasis on safety by the Chinese government is something I have not seen in any other country.&#34; He gave an example that when city leaders visit the plant, the first topic they discuss is safety. When local emergency management department staff come, the most talked-about topic is also safety production.
&#34;This emphasis is transmitted from the national level to the government, then to business leaders, and all the way down to frontline workers.&#34; Ahmed believes that this top-down safety concept is the biggest difference between China and other countries in the world. &#34;Such strong promotion, I believe, is actually a responsible attitude of 'humanism.'&#34;
When discussing China's green energy development, Ahmed believes that China is at a critical stage of energy transformation. What amazes him the most is the rapid development of electric vehicles in China.
&#34;When I first arrived in 2019, there were hardly any green license plate cars on the road. But now, there are many fewer blue license plate cars, and most are green license plate cars.&#34; Ahmed stated that as an underdeveloped province in western China, such changes are even more surprising to him.
&#34;Not only are new energy vehicles themselves being developed, but the infrastructure such as charging stations is also being built simultaneously—charging piles are everywhere, in parking lots and at park entrances. Charging is very fast, which is impressive.&#34; Ahmed said that the speed at which these supporting facilities are being advanced is a significant feature of China's new energy industry
As an energy expert, Ahmad also noticed that Ningxia has enormous potential in wind and solar energy. &#34;There are hundreds of sunny days here each year, and the potential for solar energy development is undoubtedly significant, as is wind energy.&#34; He took the high-speed train from Yinchuan to Xi'an, and the scenery along the way impressed him, &#34;As soon as the train left the urban area of Yinchuan, there were miles of wind turbines, it was spectacular!&#34;
The Hanas factory where Ahmad works is itself a part of China's green energy transition. The factory produces 1 million tons of liquefied natural gas annually, which can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.05 million tons compared to diesel, with a 91% reduction in particulate matter. &#34;This clean energy is mainly used for transportation and logistics in Ningxia and surrounding provinces, with 85% supplied to heavy trucks to replace diesel,&#34; Ahmad said, noting that heavy trucks have transformed from &#34;smoking&#34; to using &#34;clean power,&#34; replacing high-emission fuels with liquefied natural gas, which will provide exploratory experience for China to achieve &#34;carbon balance.&#34;
Integration——
From &#34;foreign factory manager&#34; to &#34;local resident&#34;
In managing the factory, Ahmad has his own understanding and feelings about Chinese employees.
&#34;Chinese people are very smart. Compared to working in the U.S., you will find that the skill level of ordinary Chinese workers is relatively higher.&#34; He said, &#34;This is one of the reasons why China has become the world's largest manufacturing country. I believe the professional ethics and diligence of workers play a very important role in this.&#34;
Ahmad's understanding after managing the factory for several years did not come overnight.
When he first arrived at the factory, he found that many employees were somewhat reserved in front of the foreign factory manager, and communication relied entirely on translators conveying messages word by word. He did not rush to implement his management style but instead spent a lot of time observing and listening.
He noticed that Chinese employees have a natural sense of responsibility; when problems arise, everyone actively seeks solutions. Once, when a piece of equipment malfunctioned, the operations team, who were supposed to finish work, all stayed behind to troubleshoot with the maintenance team until dawn. &#34;This showed me the unique professional quality of Chinese employees,&#34; Ahmad said.
&#34;People are the most important,&#34; is Ahmad's work philosophy. &#34;Machines operate according to the way people design them; they do not change. But people need to continuously adapt and improve to ensure they always maintain a higher level.&#34; He said, &#34;As a manager, my focus is on people because that is what we need to manage and improve, and I believe this will ultimately lead to an overall enhancement of the entire factory.&#34;
Now, Ahmad's life has fully integrated into Yinchuan. &#34;Usually, my favorite place to go is the winery.&#34; Ahmad said with a smile, &#34;Before coming to Ningxia, I didn't expect that wine was produced here, and I think the quality ranks among the best in all of Europe.&#34;
Every Mid-Autumn Festival, Ahmad and other foreign experts make mooncakes together; before the Spring Festival, everyone tries paper cutting and writing couplets. He has also fallen in love with Ningxia's food, &#34;The quality of lamb here is very good, and you can taste a different flavor, and the local potatoes are better than anywhere else in the world.&#34; Ahmad said
Regarding the future in China, Ahmad stated that he is nearing retirement, and Ningxia will be his last stop for work. &#34;After retirement, I think I will definitely come back, for the food here, for Helan Mountain, and for the scenery.&#34;
Encouraged by Ahmad, his brother-in-law and family have already traveled to China. &#34;After my brother-in-law's family came, they were very surprised—delicious food, friendly people, clean environment, and developed infrastructure. They said it is completely different from what some Western media portray.&#34;
Over six years of living in Yinchuan has allowed Ahmad to witness the profound transformation of China's energy industry and has given him a sense of belonging. &#34;The technology here has made significant progress in the past few years, and the products and services are getting better every day. The future of China's green energy is worth looking forward to, and the life here makes it hard for me to leave,&#34; Ahmad said

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新奥天然气股份有限公司

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China's green energy future is highly anticipated. Mashhad Ahmad, the plant manager of Ningxia Hanas Liquefied Natural Gas Co., Ltd., shared his experiences and observations in China. He joined the company in 2019 and has witnessed China's progress in green development. Ahmad stated that the portrayal of China by Western media is vastly different from the reality, emphasizing the friendliness of the Chinese people and their efficient service. His work incorporates a profound understanding of the green transformation of energy, showcasing China's potential in the new energy industry