Chinese Export to the African Countries: Links with Chinese Energy Projects

The article examines the relationship between China’s exports to African countries and the implementation of energy projects by Chinese companies. The structure of Chinese exports to Africa and trends in the development of bilateral trade is analyzed. Key factors explaining the close correlation between exports and project implementation are: first, the significant volume of tied financing provided by Chinese banks for the construction of energy infrastructure in African countries, second, the need of these countries to purchase a lot of high-tech equipment in the absence of relevant industries on their territory. The dynamics of supplies of specialized equipment from China used for the construction of various types of power plants - hydroelectric power plants, thermal power plants, wind power plants and solar power plants - is considered in detail. The article provides examples of energy projects of Chinese companies in African countries, for which the supply of equipment is directly found in the imports of the respective countries from China. The tendency for Chinese companies to open production facilities in African countries, in particular cement plants and a photovoltaic modules plant, is noted. The author concludes that the African market remains extremely promising for the implementation of energy projects and the sale of relevant Chinese products despite some negative factors.

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