Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet - Laying the Foundation for a Unified Power Grid

Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet made a significant contribution to the field of electricity, particularly in establishing a unified national power grid. His decision ensured the national electricity supply, energy security, and economic development while creating employment opportunities for thousands of workers, especially those in the power construction industry.

Among the many milestones associated with Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, his involvement with the electricity sector, hydropower plants, and the 500kV transmission line bringing electricity from the North to the South stands out. His determination and dedication to power projects as the Prime Minister then played a crucial role in building a unified power grid throughout the country, resolving the electricity shortage in the South, and promoting production and economic growth.

Energy is essential for economic development.

Long-time professionals in the electricity sector still remember the electricity shortage in the South during the 1990s. At that time, there was tremendous pressure to meet the energy demand for the economic development of the Southern region. However, while the Tri An and Da Nhim hydropower plants had just commenced operations, they faced water shortages and ran intermittently; the Thu Duc thermal power plant was operating at total capacity and required maintenance.

Meanwhile, in the Northern region, the Uong Bi, Ninh Binh, and Pha Lai thermal power plants and some Hoa Binh Hydropower plant generator units were gradually operating, meeting the required capacity.

Among the options to find electricity sources for the South, the government, led by Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, chose the construction of a high-voltage power transmission line with 500kV cables, spanning nearly 1,500km from the North, passing through 14 provinces and cities to supply electricity to the South.

On April 5, 1992, Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet decided to commence the construction of the 500kV Northern - Southern transmission line and set a determined goal to complete it within 2 years. He stated, "I want to declare the groundbreaking here as a commitment, not just empty words, but a way to ensure we can do it quickly. That is the challenge we face."

More than anyone else, Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet lived and worked in the South, particularly in the economic center of Ho Chi Minh City. He understood the importance and necessity of electricity for expanding production and serving people's lives. The nickname "Electricity Prime Minister" became popular during this time and was also related to the period when he directed the construction of the Tri An hydropower plant in 1978 and a series of other power projects.

Engineer Ho Anh To, who was the Director of Power Construction Company 2 and became the overall commander of the construction of the 500kV transmission line in the South, shared: When news circulated that the Prime Minister was considering the construction of the 500kV Northern - Southern transmission line, many people eagerly awaited the Prime Minister's decision. The South faced a severe electricity shortage at that time, with no power facilities and electrical workers waiting for job opportunities. When the Prime Minister officially decided to build the 500kV transmission line, many people erupted in joy, happiness, and enthusiasm, ready to undertake the construction task.

"It was a decision that ensured national electricity supply, energy security, and economic development while also employing thousands of workers, especially those in the power construction industry. The highly skilled workforce we had trained for a long time would have been wasted without the project and the associated work. Therefore, until now, in our memories, that decision is deeply ingrained, timely, serving the country's development, and providing benefits and employment for thousands of workers," recalled Mr. Ho Anh To.

While the overall situation was like that, few people knew that during that period, Ms. Phan Hieu Dan, the daughter of Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, also had a company engaged in manufacturing and exporting goods to Japan. Japanese partners who signed contracts with her company were primarily concerned about the power supply for production to ensure delivery schedules. Perhaps through her daughter's story, the Prime Minister understood the urgency of guaranteeing sufficient electricity for production in the South.

Ms. Hieu Dan recalled, "Even household electricity was scarce at that time. We also started engaging in economic activities and chose to trade with the Japanese market. The first question our Japanese partners always asked was: How many days a week do power outages occur? For them, timely delivery was crucial. Therefore, our concerns were also the Prime Minister's — the issue of inadequate electricity supply."

Commander-in-Chief at the Electricity Construction Site

The Prime Minister is concerned about creating a source of electricity for production and improve people's lives. During the construction of the Northern-Southern transmission line, the "Electricity Prime Minister" consistently appeared on the challenging roads and construction sites, encouraging workers to work tirelessly and rallying the public's support for the timely land clearance, thereby soon achieving project effectiveness.

From the Tri An Hydropower Project, when Mr. Vo Van Kiet was the Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, to the 500kV transmission line project when Mr. Vo Van Kiet served as the Prime Minister, all these projects bear his strong imprint.

During the tenure of Mr. Sau Dan - Vo Van Kiet as the Prime Minister, Engineer Nguyen Ba Man served as the Director of the Management Board for Hydropower Projects along the Dong Nai River. With 30 years of experience in hydropower projects in the southern region, Mr. Man was impressed by the flexible, adaptable, gentle, yet persistent leadership style of "Sau Dan" - the Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and later Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet. The significant role of Mr. Vo Van Kiet was most evident in several challenging hydropower projects such as Tri An, Thac Mo, Yaly, and Ham Thuan - Da Mi.

Mr. Man recounted that the Ham Thuan - Da Mi Hydropower Project has an annual output of 1.6-1.7 billion kWh. In addition to supplying electricity, it provides irrigation for about 40,000 hectares of paddy fields in Binh Thuan province and some areas in the northern part of Dong Nai province. The project has two clear objectives. Previously, there was no funding available, but with the commencement of Official Development Assistance (ODA) from Japan, Prime Minister Sau allocated a substantial amount of this funding, amounting to 650 million USD, to the Ham Thuan - Da Mi hydropower project, the first and only project to utilize this source of capital.

"At any position, Mr. Sau Dan showed exceptional interest in the electricity sector. During that time, he regularly provided guidance and was present at construction sites, even on Sundays," revealed Mr. Nguyen Ba Man.

Engineer Ho Thi Bich Phuong, former Director of Power Transmission Company 4, stated that there is hardly any Prime Minister with as much dedication and strong determination for the electricity industry as Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet. From the beginning, he recognized the importance of the electricity sector in the country's development. He understood that electricity was crucial and had to lead the industrial field. Without electricity, other industries could not thrive. He directed various sectors and localities to cooperate and support the development of the electricity industry. The Prime Minister connected closely with the people, the profession, and the work to provide guidance.

"In the electricity industry, everyone loved and respected him. He provided close guidance for the entire electricity sector, from production to operation and transmission. When visiting construction sites with him on several occasions, I witnessed his strong determination to lead the electricity sector. We made a constant promise to him to firmly maintain the power grid, especially during a time when the South was experiencing electricity shortages. Each kilowatt of electricity was highly valued. With his guidance and immense determination, he successfully brought the national power grid to the South," said Ms. Ho Thi Bich Phuong.

With innovative thinking, strong decision-making abilities, and smooth coordination in directing operations, the electricity projects he decided to invest in, design, and construct were completed quickly with the highest quality. They left a lasting mark associated with his name, such as the Northern - Southern 500kV transmission line and hydropower plants like Tri An, Thac Mo, and Yaly.

He will forever be remembered as an "Electricity Prime Minister," a commander-in-chief of the electrical industry, and a leader who laid the foundation and made significant contributions to a unified national power grid, meeting the needs of development and economic integration as we see today.

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1. Năng lượng Việt Nam

2. VOV.vn

3. EVN