Being "the first-born child" of Vietnam electric power industry, Uong Bi Thermal Power Plant has until now experienced over a half century in constructing, developing with a great contribution for the electric sector of the country.
Commenced to construct justly on the dear Uncle Ho's birthday - May 19th, 1961, after nearly three years of construction with nice support from Russian experts, the plant had been completed for the 1st stage with two units, capacity of which was 12 MW per one. On November 20th, 1963, the first electric current of the plant had been synchronized in the North grid. On January 18th, 1964, Prime Minister Phạm Văn Đồng was warmly welcomed at the plant to take part in the Inauguration Ceremony in hounorly pleased atmostphere.
In the years of anti-American resistance war, inspite of the fierce war, the staff and employees on the jobsite were still unyielding in both producing and fighting for protection of the plant, and continuing to extend more two units of 55 MW which were put into operation increasing the installed capacity of the plant up to 158 MW.
After the unification day of the country, Uong Bi Thermal Power Plant kept on upholding its good traditions, producing more electric energy for the country. Because of load development demand and in order to meet requirements of full power, the Government made decision of investment on extending the Uong Bi Thermal Power Plant with two more units: Uong Bi Extension Plant 1 (300 MW), and Uong Bi Extension Plant 1 (330 MW). At present, both these plants have generated power to synchronize into the National Grid.
With thickness of history and development, and such great distrubution for the country economy, Uong Bi Thermal Power Plant had been, twice, hournorly granted by the Party and the Government with Hero Title: Labour Hero (in 1973) and People Arm Force Hero (in 1998), and a lot of other medals, emulation flags.
Với bề dày lịch sử hình thành và phát triển, và những đóng góp to lớn cho nền kinh tế đất nước, Nhiệt điện Uông Bí đã vinh dự được Đảng và Nhà nước 2 lần phong tặng danh hiệu Anh hùng: Anh hùng Lao động (1973) và Anh hùng Lực lượng vũ trang nhân dân (1998), cùng nhiều Huân chương, cờ thi đua khác.
