The equipment manufacturing industry in Rudong is currently thriving and driving the revitalization of the real economy. [Photo/WeChat account: rudongfb]

Responding to the opportunities brought about by the national development strategies such as the Yangtze River Delta integration, Rudong county has reportedly made great efforts in the development of industrial clusters featuring energy and equipment.

The equipment manufacturing sectors represented by new energy have gradually become an important emerging pillar industry in Rudong – administered by Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province – making great contributions to the county's economic development.

The upper modules of two offshore booster stations for a new 800 megawatt offshore wind power plant – funded by State Power Investment Corporation Limited – were hoisted and installed offshore Rudong at the end of March, marking another step towards its national grid connection.

Among the offshore wind power projects currently under construction in Rudong, the 800 mW project is receiving the most investment and is making the most use of the resources of the local wind power industry. Some 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) of its 14.8 billion yuan total investment will be used to purchase local equipment and services.

Currently, Rudong has reportedly formed a complete wind power equipment manufacturing ecosystem, with nearly 70 upstream and downstream support enterprises.

Zhang Jun, deputy director of the Rudong County Development and Reform Commission, said that the total installed capacity of planned new energy power generation projects in the county tops 10 gigawatts. The annual sales of the wind power and support industries are expected to reach 60 billion yuan by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25).

Moreover, communications, power grid equipment, petroleum machinery, engineering machinery and other industries in the county are also thriving – driving overall growth of the equipment manufacturing sector.

A high-end equipment industrial park, with a total investment of 2.5 billion yuan, is to settle in Hekou town following an agreement that was signed recently. After completion, the park will attract a number of leading equipment manufacturers engaging in R&D and production.

The manufacturing industry is proving to be a major force in revitalizing the local real economy, with the equipment manufacturing industry having priority. Rudong is reportedly increasing efforts in recruiting scientific staff and introducing technological projects, to promote the upgrade of the equipment manufacturing industry.