A giant dam is part of a national scandal in Ecuador

The Chinese dam building around the world is a tragedy in my opinion (this isn't limited to just Chinese dams, though). Remote places in undeveloped or poorly developed parts of the world are utterly destroyed by these dams. Road building, deforestation, displacement of native species and native people.

I witnessed this first hand while hiking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal a few years back. A road is being built deep into the valley and not only is it disrupting the peacefulness and the attraction that is/was a hike through ancient cultures and landscapes with no roads, but it's also putting people out of business. Various tea houses (that provide accommodation and meals) lie now next to a dirt road where trucks race up and down instead of hikers. Many hikers now take a 4x4 up to high altitudes, skipping the lower parts.

In comparison, a power plant can be controlled with very little staff once the building is complete.

See also https://www.balkanrivers.net for a not-so-remote proposed dams.

I've commissioned hydro electric turbines and generators manufactured in China. If it was a Chinese brand the big bits were useable but a lot of detailed components, systems, and instrumentation was assembled and tested once and then put in the garbage.

European brands also get some of their big bits manufactured in China but engineering is performed in Europe and the auxiliary systems and instrumentation are also European brands and not counterfeit fakes. Also the European brands will do quality control and offer a performance guarantee and generally will send competent engineers to make sure their equipment is assembled and installed and commissioned properly.

a case of you get what you pay for.

This kind thing seems like a trend for China. Does anyone know of a list somewhere with all the nations China loaned money and resources like this?

Sounds like the Chinese have taken Pilger's Economic Hitman as their roadmap to power and riches.