As of this year, China Nuclear Industry 22nd Construction Co (CNI22), a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), has been operating in Timor-Leste for 16 years.

As one of the first Chinese construction teams to enter the country, CNI22 has been playing an active role in advancing the Belt and Road Initiative while witnessing and contributing to Timor-Leste's development.

In 2009, CNI22 launched its first overseas EPC project — the National Power Grid of Timor-Leste. Over five years of construction, the project delivered a comprehensive power infrastructure that included nine electrical substations, one dispatching center, 1,407 towers, 603 kilometers of high-voltage transmission lines, 120 kilometers of medium-voltage lines, and two power plant oil tanks, covering design, procurement, and construction. This project has established a nationwide electricity network and transformed the local situation featured with a national electrification rate of less than 20% and severe power shortages to the one with a well connected network and reliable power supply.

To date, the project has achieved an annual transmission and transformation capacity of 540,000 megawatt-hours. Since its commissioning, it has operated safely for nearly 5,000 consecutive days, delivering a cumulative total of 5.8 million megawatt-hours of electricity. As the largest and most reliable power transmission hub in the country, the project has provided a steady energy supply to support Timor-Leste’s economic growth and brought light to more than 1.3 million residents.

Following the completion of construction, CNI22 continued to take on maintenance responsibilities. It has also played an active role in training local technical and management personnel, making ongoing contributions to the country's economic and social development and the improvement of people's livelihoods.

CNI22 has adopted a localized management model in its operations in Timor-Leste, leveraging its strengths to integrate local resources. Its growing demand for diverse talent has brought significant changes to the local employment landscape. As CNI22 continues to expand in the country, more local residents have gained stable jobs, acquired valuable skills, improved their incomes and seen notable improvement in their living conditions. The harmonious collaboration between Chinese and local employees has also promoted cultural exchange, mutual understanding, and integration. Increasingly, local women are participating in roles suited to their capabilities, further broadening the project's social impact.

Over the last 16 years, CNI22 has become deeply integrated into the daily lives of local communities in Timor-Leste. Starting with the national power grid project and expanding into road upgrades and maintenance, water system operations and training, CNI22 has increasingly taken part in various aspects of the country's infrastructure development. Its contributions now span a wide range of sectors — from energy supply, transportation and commerce to education, environmental protection and agriculture—playing a vital role in supporting Timor-Leste's sustainable growth.

"Looking ahead, we will continue to strengthen our presence in existing markets while expanding our reach to neighboring regions," said Dai Linfeng, General Manager of the Timor-Leste Branch of CNI22. "By combining technological empowerment with local collaboration, we aim to turn our engineering strengths into sustainable partnerships. At the same time, we are exploring new markets, striving to become a leading EPC contractor in Timor-Leste and a competitive general contractor across Southeast Asia."