At the Quality Department of Haiyue Electric, whenever Li Jiantao is mentioned, his colleagues invariably say, “Jiantao is reliable!” On August 21, 2025, he embarked on a journey to Zimbabwe in Africa, taking on the critical task of installing and commissioning 93 high-voltage switchgear cabinets and 345 low-voltage switchgear cabinets for the Huajing Technology project—a 50,000-ton-per-year lithium sulfate production facility. Over the course of two months, he demonstrated through his actions what responsibility truly means and how to live up to one’s mission.

Clear goals, firm steps.

During Zimbabwe’s dry season, the air is bone-dry and swirling sand and dust whip against your face. Before Li Jiantao had even had time to acclimatize to the climate, he plunged headfirst into the project site. The bumpy, long-distance journey had warped some equipment housings and loosened terminals, but he didn’t hesitate: he meticulously checked each item against the inventory list and coordinated on-site replacement of spare cabinets. “Equipment is the foundation—without a solid foundation, everything that follows is just empty talk,” he said with unwavering resolve.

On the second evening after arriving on site, one unexpected challenge followed another: power was scheduled to be supplied to the distribution room that night, but cable-laying had fallen behind schedule. “A plan is a promise—there’s no room for delay,” he said. Donning gloves, he joined the construction crew, carefully guiding the cables around sharp equipment and meticulously testing each one for continuity, work that continued late into the night until just after midnight, when the power-supply task was finally completed. That night, the starlight bore witness to his unwavering determination.

From that day on, “moving forward according to plan” became his daily routine. Every morning, he and his team would clearly define the day’s tasks: “commissioning the transformer in Distribution Room 411,” “inspecting the wiring of High-Voltage Switchgear 406”... For each task, he meticulously recorded it in his notebook and marked it off once completed. It was precisely this meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment that kept the entire project progressing steadily.

▲ Zimbabwe Huajing Technology’s 50,000-ton-per-year lithium sulfate project

Power-on site

Details reveal the true craftsmanship; meticulous dedication for superior quality.

Unexpected incidents are inevitable in overseas projects. In early September, a newly purchased DC switchgear unit suddenly triggered a fault alarm, and no one on site could resolve it. Li Jiantao remained calm and immediately contacted the domestic manufacturer. Given the six-hour time difference, he made a cross-border call every afternoon at the appointed time, meticulously explaining the fault symptoms and test data while coordinating with the technical team for remote troubleshooting. Two days later, the fault was successfully rectified. “We can’t let a single piece of equipment disrupt the entire project’s schedule,” he said calmly, yet with unwavering conviction.

Over the more than sixty days and nights in Africa, his daily routine was strikingly simple—almost monotonous: dormitory, worksite, and canteen. The Chinese meals at the project canteen were the only “taste of home” he had each day. He rarely ventured outside the compound, saying, “I just don’t have time to think about anything else—my mind is always on the equipment and what needs to be done tomorrow. Only then do I feel truly at ease.”

Responsibility on Our Shoulders, Mission Must Be Accomplished

On October 23, Li Jiantao returned home with the successful completion of his project. However, before he had even had a full day to rest, early on October 24 a fire broke out in a distribution cabinet at a company in the development zone, bringing half of its production line to a halt. Upon receiving an urgent request for support from the local government, he grabbed his toolkit and rushed to the scene. By 8:30 a.m., he was already crouching in the workshop, investigating the cause of the malfunction. It turned out that the addition of new equipment had overloaded the system, triggering the fire. He promptly coordinated his team to rapidly fabricate a new distribution cabinet, doing everything possible to ensure the company’s swift resumption of production.

▲ Li Jiantao (second from left) conducts emergency repairs at a company in the development zone.

Looking back on his trip to Africa, Li Jiantao offered no grand pronouncements—only a simple, down-to-earth summary: “Responsibility means seeing that every task is done right.” In the workshop, he maintained strict quality control, leaving no detail overlooked; on site, he kept a close eye on progress, steadily moving forward day after day; and when faced with challenges, he remained calm and composed, methodically sorting out the issues step by step. Over those two months, through his unwavering dedication and meticulous craftsmanship, he embedded the very essence of “responsibility” into every single detail—and into the hearts of everyone involved.

Haiyue (Hubei) Company

Publicity Department

October 25, 2025