Engineering Record of the Eighth Project Department's Angkor International Airport Project in Siem Reap, Cambodia

The Siem Reap Angkor International Airport project in Cambodia, constructed by the Eighth Engineering Project Department, is a landmark project of the China-Cambodia co-construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative. It is a significant symbol of deepening China-Cambodia cooperation and a testament to the profound friendship between the Chinese and Cambodian people. The company accepted the responsibility of participating in the construction of the Siem Reap Angkor Airport, undertaking a challenging task. During the construction process, the project department coordinated cadres and employees, doing everything possible to overcome difficulties and challenges. They demonstrated a spirit of hard work and perseverance, balancing epidemic prevention and control with project construction. Ultimately, they ensured the project was completed on time and to the required standard, contributing to the successful opening of Siem Reap Airport.

Dare to Take Responsibility, Overcome Difficulties

2022 On February 14th, the company received an urgent task to participate in the construction of Siem Reap Angkor Airport. At that time, the foreign epidemic was at its most severe, and entry and exit procedures were extremely strict. The Eighth Engineering Project Department quickly established a project management department. After its establishment, the department promptly organized management personnel and domestic workers to process passports and prepare for departure. On March 6, 2022, nine management personnel and fifteen Chinese workers arrived in Siem Reap and began pre-construction preparations. Subsequently, according to project needs, the department repeatedly organized management personnel and domestic workers to the construction site to participate in project preparation and construction.

The Siem Reap Airport project involved a large scale, tight deadlines, numerous participating units, complex cross-operations, and significant coordination challenges. Coupled with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many participating units hesitated. However, the project department took on the challenge, actively assuming responsibility, and establishing the concept of "one network, one chessboard, one family, one heart." They fully leveraged their organizational management and coordination capabilities to solve problems one by one, implementing staggered construction and cross-operations to resolve mutual interference. At the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport project, the project department undertook the construction of municipal rainwater pipelines, water supply pipelines, fire protection pipelines, and sprinkler pipelines; the remaining civil engineering, steel structure, and waterproofing works of the terminal building, as well as subsequent design changes and additions; and the steel structure of the control tower and the Cambodian management building.

Faced with increasing workloads, the project department, instead of retreating, adhered to the general contractor's requirements of "unchanged goals, uncompromised standards, and no delays." They implemented the group's management requirements for "guaranteeing four aspects, establishing one aspect, and controlling one aspect" across production, quality, safety, and materials. They diligently practiced project work methods, frontline work methods, and exemplary guidance methods, balancing epidemic prevention and production. Using a reverse scheduling method, they implemented a "daily, weekly, and monthly" guarantee system and three-shift continuous operation to accelerate construction. This created a new wave of progress and efficiency for the Siem Reap Airport project, contributing to the successful opening on October 16th and laying a solid foundation for the company's future overseas market expansion.

Proper Coordination, Overcoming Difficulties

2022 After the project department management team arrived in Cambodia on March 6th, the project manager, after clarifying the division of responsibilities among the project management personnel, immediately organized and coordinated the entry of personnel, machinery, and materials. The technical director quickly familiarized themselves with the drawings and prepared construction organization designs and special plans. On-site foremen and surveyors began familiarizing themselves with the site and preparing for benchmark point re-measurement and line setting. The budget officer began coordinating with the general contractor to verify the construction drawings and budgets and sign contracts with upstream and downstream parties. The materials officer coordinated on-site inspections and contract signing for steel pipes, concrete pipes, and construction machinery. The safety officer began checking for on-site safety hazards and conducting safety technical briefings. Logistics personnel began purchasing living and office supplies and constructing temporary on-site accommodation. All work proceeded synchronously and orderly.

2022 March to May coincided with Cambodia's rainy season, the most intense period of construction for the project, which involved significant outdoor pipeline work. The project department adopted a work model of "seizing sunny days, battling rainy days, not leaving time for the night, working hard in light rain, working less in heavy rain, and working hard when there is no rain, with three-shift operations for workers and machinery running day and night." However, continuous heavy rain posed significant challenges. Before excavation was complete, trenches filled with water, severely affecting subsequent work. After careful planning and repeated measurements, the project department decided to excavate from high to low elevations and use pumps to remove water, ultimately solving the problem of trench waterlogging and collapse, which prevented pipe laying. During rainy season construction, safety was paramount. Management personnel and teams implemented dual responsibilities, requiring all project department employees to act as the primary safety supervisors. When material supplies were insufficient, the project manager personally led the materials officer to procure materials from Phnom Penh, over 400 kilometers away. While waiting for materials, the project department coordinated with the on-site processing area to allow teams to prefabricate manhole rings, manhole covers, and modular bricks. With more than twenty construction units working on the site and many intersection points, the project department proactively communicated and coordinated with various teams to ensure no interference between machinery or personnel. The "daily, weekly, and monthly" progress guarantee system ensured that small milestones were not deviated from and that major milestones remained controllable. Through the efforts of all project members, the May 30th and July 30th milestones were successfully completed.

Due to the project department's outstanding performance in the early stages of outdoor construction, in October 2022, the project department was assigned by the general contractor to undertake urgent work on the terminal building, specifically the installation of the steel structure at the top of the control tower. However, the tower materials were special-shaped components, and no Cambodian manufacturer met the supply requirements. Due to the epidemic, domestic supply was also impossible. The project team had to procure materials internationally, eventually custom-ordering them from Vietnam, overcoming numerous obstacles to ensure delivery. A new challenge then arose: each tower component weighed 3.8 tons, while the on-site crane had a payload of only 4 tons, making installation difficult and dangerous. The project department attached great importance to this, and after repeated calculations and careful planning, the steel structure of the control tower was successfully hoisted and installed. Following this, the project department continued to uphold the "Er'an" spirit, going wherever needed. They successfully completed new tasks, including the large-span canopy in front of the station, the installation of dormer windows, fire protection electromechanical engineering, and the completion of civil works, ensuring the successful completion of the terminal building.

2023 In January, the project department undertook a new task: constructing a building for Cambodian use. This presented new challenges, as most management personnel lacked experience in civil engineering main structure construction, and the September 30th deadline was approaching. The project department actively sought cooperation resources and assembled a highly skilled construction team. They learned management experience and quality and technical knowledge from civil engineering companies, using exemplary guidance to ensure smooth project progress. The project department prioritized safety, conducting thorough safety technical briefings, holding pre-shift and post-shift meetings, and strictly implementing weekly "four-in-one" activities, strengthening safety education and training. They also increased investment in safety materials and developed comprehensive safety measures and management methods, ensuring high-quality project completion while maintaining safety. Through the tireless efforts of all project personnel, the Cambodian building was successfully energized on September 29th, passing the initial acceptance inspection.

Hardship and Struggle Lead to Success

Due to a late appointment, the project team arrived late, and the project site could only be chosen far from the construction site. Commuting daily took a long time. Coupled with the persistent high temperatures, management personnel were drenched in sweat every day, walking more than ten kilometers under the sun. However, the project management team did not complain but silently shortened their rest time and devoted themselves to the project construction.

During the rainy season's outdoor rush work, management personnel rolled up their sleeves and worked alongside the workers. Neither heavy rain nor light rain could stop their progress. Their clothes were wet and dry, wet and dry again, with sweat and rainwater dripping down their safety helmets, but no one stopped working. During the construction of the terminal building, there was a lot of cross-operation, and each management personnel had to make hundreds of calls every day to coordinate various tasks; during the masonry construction on the third floor of the terminal building, sand and gravel had to be carried up the stairs bag by bag manually, and bricks had to be manually moved to the construction site one by one. During the construction of the Cambodian housing, the project management personnel supervised and guided the work at the construction site during the day and studied professional knowledge and prepared materials in the office at night. Even if they sometimes had to work overtime at the construction site until 2 or 3 in the morning, they still insisted on finishing their work for the day, returning to the office to continue studying and organizing materials.

The project management team overcame all difficulties and resolutely crossed national borders during the epidemic. In the end, they proved with excellent results that this project management team is a strong team that is exceptionally hardworking, capable of fighting, and dedicated, daring to fight tough battles, good at fighting tough battles, and capable of winning tough battles. In addition, due to limitations in language and cultural differences, communication between the two sides was difficult. The project department took the initiative to organize management personnel to learn Cambodian and English, strengthening communication with Cambodian personnel. While ensuring the smooth progress of the work, they also forged deep friendships with local builders, becoming a vivid portrayal of actively integrating into the national "Belt and Road" development strategy.

The project team's excellent performance in the construction process has won high recognition from the owner and general contractor. In the "Quick Construction of High-Quality Products for the Belt and Road Initiative" 100-day intensive labor competition organized by the owner and general contractor, the project department won the "Excellent Unit" honorary title; the company was awarded the "Advanced Collective" by Angkor International Airport Investment (Cambodia) Co., Ltd.; the project manager received the "Builder Medal"; and 4 project management personnel received the "Advanced Individual" title. Next, the Eighth Engineering Project Department will continue to maintain a vigorous and hardworking attitude, guided by the "14th Five-Year Plan" strategic goals, and make every effort to seize opportunities and promote development, contributing to the high-quality development of the group! [Eighth Engineering Project Department/Guan Yunjin]