Driller Tran Kim Minh – a worker closely involved with hydropower plants

(VOVworld) – Hero of the renewal process Tran Kim Minh was one of 15 outstanding individuals honored at the 10^th Glory Vietnam program. This experienced driller with affiliate 707 of the Da River Construction Corporation has long been involved with hydropower plants.

What impressed me most when I met driller Tran Kim Minh was his calloused hands and his face lined with hardship. Minh was very moved when he was honored by the 10^th Glory Vietnam program. Minh said that right after graduation he began to work in hydropower plants construction, one of Vietnam’s major initiatives when the country embarked on its renewal process. Minh says it was fate that bound him to hydropower plants: “I began to work at the Hoa Binh hydro power plant in 1986, the first hydropower plant in Vietnam. Then I was involved in construction of the Yali, Son La and Nam Chien and other small hydropower plants around the country. I’m working on the construction of the Lai Chau hydropower plant now.”

Minh has spent 27 years living and working in the most remote and disadvantaged areas of the country, but hardship, distress, and disease could not hold him back. Minh said: “I had prepared my mindset before I was engaged in this work. While trying to ease my job with new technology and innovations, I have become more attached to it.”

Minh has always encouraged himself to be excellent at one job and good at many others. As a driller, Minh also learned to become a welder and how to operate construction machinery effectively and safely. Many of his initiatives at work have been hailed by his managers. Pham Dac Thanh is Deputy Director of affiliate 707 of the Da River Construction Corporation: “As a team leader, Minh is a role model in our company. He has always fulfilled his tasks and has a friendly character. Many of his initiatives have proved effective including one to control the work schedule and another to repair the company’s machinery.”

Minh has been an executive member of his company’s trade union since 1995. His valuable contributions and merit have been rewarded by the State with the title “Hero of the renewal process”. His coworker Nguyen Duc Giang says of him: “Minh is very responsible about his work and friendly to others. He has always tried to create the best possible working and living conditions for other workers and their families.”

Minh said he is very grateful to his wife who has to take care of all the housework and their two daughters by herself: “I really sympathize with my wife because I can only go home after one or two months and each time I can stay at home only for 3 or 4 days. In more than 20 years in this work, the total time I’ve been at home is approximately one year.”

Minh’s passion for his work seems bondless and the Lai Chau hydropower plant will most certainly not be his last stop.

Le Phuong