Quang Ninh: Fighting against destructive war while increasing production

After causing the "Gulf of Tonkin" incident, on August 5, 1964, the US imperialists sent planes and warships to bomb the North, including Quang Ninh . In that situation, implementing the direction of the Party Central Committee, together with the Northern localities, the army and people of Quang Ninh province, in addition to strengthening the fight against the sabotage of the US imperialists, also enthusiastically worked and produced, successfully implementing the emulation movement "Each person works as hard as two, all for the beloved South", especially achieving many important achievements in coal and electricity production.

Workers and engineers installing equipment at Uong Bi Power Plant in 1963.

Due to the importance of the Coal and Electricity industry, the Party and State focused on investing in Quang Ninh to build the Uong Bi Power Plant with a capacity of 100MW - the largest in the North in 1963. With the help of the Communist Party, the Government and the people of the Soviet Union, the dedicated labor, courage, diligence and creative intelligence of the collective of cadres and workers at the construction site, after 30 months of hard work, on November 26, 1963, the first electricity of Unit 1 of the Uong Bi Power Plant was lit up, joining the power grid of the North.

Although this was a time when the US Air Force was fiercely bombing, with the slogan "The Fatherland needs electricity like the body needs blood", the officers and workers of the Uong Bi Power Plant were brave in combat and creative in labor to produce electricity to supply the North, building a solid rear to serve the battlefield in the South.

Mr. Doan Van Phong, former Deputy Director of Uong Bi Thermal Power Company (left) talked with reporters about the years of building Uong Bi Power Plant.

Mr. Doan Van Phong, former Deputy Director of Uong Bi Thermal Power Company, is now 85 years old, but the images and echoes of the early days of construction, installation and operation of the Uong Bi Power Plant are still forever in his mind. Mr. Phong shared: In 1963-1964, I was a worker at the Uong Bi Power Plant, directly participating with Soviet officers and engineers in installing power generation equipment. At that time, the American enemy was fiercely bombarding, but with a high spirit of determination, all for the Fatherland, workers like us were not shaken by the enemy's bombs and bullets, day and night installing equipment, producing electricity to feed into the national grid.

Along with the Electricity industry, responding to President Ho Chi Minh 's call, the Coal industry also actively competed in labor and production, with the determination to produce many tons of clean coal to serve domestic needs. In 1964, the Hon Gai Coal Company, including mines from Mao Khe, Dong Trieu to Mong Duong, Cam Pha, launched the coal production campaign "Each person works as two", "Dien Bien - Ap Bac". By the end of 1964, the Hon Gai Coal Company had completed the coal production plan with an output of over 3 million tons of clean coal, an increase of 6% compared to the plan.

At Deo Nai mine, the unit achieved the most outstanding feat in the emulation campaign called “Dien Bien Phu”, leading in labor productivity and product quality. Mr. Mai Huu Phan, a former worker at Deo Nai mine, now Deo Nai Coal Joint Stock Company - Coc 6, although he is 91 years old, he still remembers the memories of a difficult but very proud time of the coal industry units. Mr. Phan shared: In 1964, the American invaders bombed the North, the miners at that time both directly participated in the fight and produced coal. Without anyone telling anyone, everyone enthusiastically worked double or triple to mine coal, serving other production industries.

At that time, the Coal industry always exceeded production plans, contributing human and material resources to the great front line in the South. On the occasion of the Lunar New Year of At Ty in 1965, President Ho Chi Minh visited, encouraged, congratulated, and shared joy with the army and people of Quang Ninh and he awarded the Coal industry the Best Emulation Flag.

Coal production at Deo Nai mine during the anti-American resistance war.

The great contributions of manpower and resources of the army and people of Quang Ninh at that time made an important contribution, together with the whole country, to completing two strategic tasks: Building socialism in the North; supporting the South, contributing to the historic victory in the Spring of 1975, unifying the country. That tradition has been promoted by the army and people of Quang Ninh to this day, creating a combined strength to excellently complete political tasks in the locality, always being commended and recognized by the Central Government every year.

Manh Truong

Source