PC Quang Ninh: 52 years of "Lighting up trust" at the Fatherland's frontline

In the early 70s of the last century, the country had to go through the most fierce days of the destructive war of the US empire. After the Paris Agreement was signed, a new phase opened, but in the North, the task of post-war reconstruction and support for the southern frontline was still heavy on the shoulders. In that context, on August 11, 1973, the Quang Ninh Electricity Distribution Management Department - the predecessor of today's Quang Ninh Electricity Company (PC Quang Ninh) was officially established. That birth was not simply an administrative decision, but also a historical command, demonstrating a strategic vision of the role of the energy lifeline. More than half a century has passed, a long enough journey for PC Quang Ninh to write an epic about human will and a strong desire to rise up, along with the miraculous rise of the land and people here.

Báo Quảng Ninh•20/08/2025

I still remember clearly those difficult early days. Calling it “Electricity Industry” for formality, but in reality the infrastructure at that time was just a meager, fragmented legacy and riddled with wounds. “ Mining Area ” Power Grid with a patchwork, outdated system, mainly serving the mines and a few small towns. The first generation of electricians had to face many difficulties and challenges. Not only did they lack equipment, but they also had to work in dangerous conditions, when bombs and unexploded ordnance were left underground . I have heard stories about the image The workers wading through streams, crossing forests, and swinging on electric poles in the freezing winter to reconnect each broken wire have become immortal symbols of the spirit of the electricians of the Mining land. They are not only pulling electricity, but are pulling faith and hope for a brighter tomorrow . Through many stages of transformation, from the Electricity Distribution Management Department to the Quang Ninh Electricity Department and now Quang Ninh PC , each name change clearly marks the maturity, the growth in scale and responsibility, as well as recording the tireless efforts to change from a patchwork and repair unit to a unit that successfully manages, operates and builds a synchronous energy system.

In October 2000, the staff of Mong Duong 110 kV station happily received the noble award of Third Class Labor Medal.

As time goes by, the history of Quang Ninh Electricity industry has really turned a page when the country entered the period of innovation . The mission of "electricity must go one step ahead" is no longer a slogan but has become a guideline for all actions and Quang Ninh Electricity has not disappointed the expectations of the Party Committee , together with ethnic minorities in the province. Century-old projects were born one after another, creating a solid backbone for the entire system. 110kV transformer stations such as Gieng Day, Mong Duong, Cam Pha, Uong Bi... were newly built and renovated, increasing capacity, ensuring supply capacity for key industrial zones.

And then, a glorious miracle came, becoming a shining milestone not only for PC Quang Ninh but also for the entire Vietnam Electricity industry , which was the project of bringing the national grid to Co To island district in 2013. This was a bold project, a conquest of the ocean with the will and intelligence of Vietnam. Because for the first time, we carried out the laying of large-scale submarine cables, with a length of nearly 24 km. km, crossing the sea area with the most complex geological and hydrological conditions in the Gulf of Tonkin. In particular, I was also lucky to go to the field, witness the busy construction days, see each drop of sweat rolling down the sun-tanned faces of the engineers and workers on the large construction site .

Meters of 22kV underground power cable were laid by the construction unit into the sea on the Ba Mun - Co To section.

I heard a young engineer confide: "Sister , with each meter of cable lowered to the seabed, we not only feel proud of the technique, but also feel a sacred responsibility. We are not only pulling the cable, but also pulling the mainland's trust to the remote islands, pulling the attention of the Party and State to each person on the island . " The historic moment when the national grid light lit up on the outpost island in the burst of happiness of the army and people brought about a real revolution. Refrigerators, televisions, and air conditioners are no longer a luxury dream. Seafood processing facilities, motels, and hotels are constantly being built. sprung up, the tourism industry began to take off. More importantly, the electricity has lit up confidence, helping people feel secure in sticking to the sea, contributing to firmly consolidating national security and defense. Following the miracle of Co To, the electricity continues to overcome the waves to reach the island communes of Cai Chien (Hai Ha), Tran Island (Co To)... to realize the commitment of not leaving anyone behind.

The 22 kV overhead line crosses the islands to bring electricity to Co To Island.

If the miracle of crossing the sea is the epic of the past, then the achievements in the digital age are the symphony of the present and the future. Entering the 21st century, Quang Ninh has made a spectacular transformation , transforming the growth model from "brown" to "green" economy . In that great transformation, Quang Ninh PC is the energy lifeline, becoming a solid foundation to ensure success. The statistics themselves are an epic , when the commercial electricity output from 1.7 billion kWh in 2010 has jumped to 6.5 billion kWh in 2024. This nearly 4- fold increase is not only an economic indicator , but also reflects the strong vitality of the emerging economy, from high-tech industrial parks to international-scale tourism and service mega-projects and most importantly, the improved quality of life in every home of millions of people.

In particular, the rate of power loss has decreased sharply, from 7.59% (in 2010) to an astonishing figure of only 2.94% (in 2024). As a child of the Electricity industry , I deeply understand how meaningful this number is. It is the result of a systematic investment process in modernizing the power grid, applying technology and improving management capacity. Each percentage reduction in loss means saving millions of kWh of electricity, contributing to improving economic efficiency and using national resources sustainably.

Hotline electrical repair, improving reliability of power supply to customers.

Keeping up with the Industrial Revolution 4.0, PC Quang Ninh has truly created a revolution within itself, transforming from a simple electricity supplier to a professional, modern electricity service provider. The application of information technology and digital transformation has penetrated every corner of production and business activities. Complex management systems such as CMIS , PMIS, CRM, OMS... have been operated synchronously. The Remote Control Center was born, allowing engineers to monitor and operate the entire power grid from just one computer screen. 110kV transformer stations are gradually being converted to an unmanned model, becoming a big step forward in automation. For customers, this revolution is even more clearly felt. Manual notebooks recording meter readings have become a thing of the past, replaced by electronic meter systems and remote data collection, ensuring absolute transparency and accuracy; 100% of electricity services can be performed online ; The image of hotline repair teams working on live power lines has become familiar, helping to minimize power supply interruption time. In particular, the motto "Customer-centric" is no longer a slogan, but has permeated every action, expressed through meaningful social security programs such as "Lighting up the countryside", "Giving trust, sending love", showing gratitude to families with preferential policies, supporting Vietnamese Heroic Mothers...

But no matter how modern technology is, machines can replace many jobs, what makes up the soul and internal strength of a brand is people. Looking back on the past 52 years , the most valuable asset of PC Quang Ninh is the generations of employees, the silent but brave "orange soldiers". They are the previous generation, with their love for the profession and the brave spirit and iron discipline of miners , they have laid a solid foundation. And they are also today's young generation, well-trained, dynamic, creative, not only having solid skills but also constantly learning and mastering modern science and technology.

...connected to the remote control center.

I had the opportunity to talk with a young engineer Nguyen Ngoc Khang - Scada Engineer of the Remote Control Center , Secretary of the Company's Youth Union, he confided: "The generation of our fathers and uncles conquered the light source with courage. Our generation today is conquering the digital space with intelligence. The pressure is great but also extremely proud, because we are continuing a glorious tradition of the heroic electricians of Quang Ninh ". The spirit of solidarity, culture of innovation , creativity, daring to think, daring to do, daring to face challenges have become core values, helping PC Quang Ninh overcome all difficulties. Because they understand that behind each of their actions is the safety of their teammates, the light of millions of homes, helping to operate smoothly. the local economy .

Mobile operation team checks peak hour technical parameters at Yen Cu 110 kV substation (21st 110 kV substation of Quang Ninh PC).

Fifty-two years, a proud journey has ended to open a new chapter with greater opportunities and challenges. The vision of making Quang Ninh a city directly under the Central Government by 2030 is posing a big problem for the Electricity industry regarding energy security. The requirement is not only to provide enough electricity, but also to provide smart, stable electricity with the highest quality, while integrating renewable energy sources that are friendly to the environment. But I believe, with the tradition of "Discipline - Unity" of the miners , linked with the desire for innovation and a heart always turned towards the people, the PC Quang Ninh collective will continue to move forward, writing new chapters in the epic of light, building a smart, modern power grid, worthy of the development of the locality and the country. The river of light on the mining land never stops flowing and will continue to be nurtured by the sweat, intelligence and blood of many generations of electricians . That electricity continue to flow, carrying faith and responsibility, lighting up Quang Ninh to become rich, civilized, modern, making a significant contribution to the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country and successfully implementing the Resolution of the 16th Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee, term 2025-2030 .