Slender& petite figure with fair skin, it is hard to imagine at first glance that Lo Thi Yen, who was born in 2001, is an outstanding shift leader at Nam Xe Hydropower Plant. Her job which demands endurance, high concentration, and the ability to work under immense pressure seems more suited for men.
Meeting her during a work trip to the Lai Chau Project Cluster, her shy smile while welcoming our team with her colleagues made me initially mistake her for an operator’s girlfriend visiting the plant. Until we sat down for drinks and were introduced, I realized she was Yen, the very person I had heard many stories about back at the office. As we prepared dinner together at the Nam Xe project’s operational house, I learned even more about her.
Yen shared, “I was born and raised in Lai Chau, a region renowned for hydropower projects. As a child, I watched the workers laboring tirelessly to dam the rivers, constructing the plants that would generate power and light up the villages. Along with my father’s stories about the people working in the electricity industry, these experiences gradually deeply inspired my mind. From a young age, I had only one dream—that one day I would work in the electricity industry."
Lo Thi Yen, a young girl of the Thai ethnic minority, continued, “It was pure fate that led me to the electricity industry. Even though I admired those working in the industry as a child, after high school, I chose a different path due to my circumstances and peer influence. I initially enrolled and passed the exam to study Chinese in the Faculty of International Studies at Thái Nguyên University. But after two months of study, I realized my true youth passion and burning dream deep in my subconscious began to emerge. I made a life-altering decision to move to Hanoi, and with my high school record and excellent grades, I was directly admitted into the Northern Electricity College. I remember my parents worried about my small appearance and being a girl, whoever studies in the electricity industry, but with my persuasion, they eventually comprehended, trusted and supported me to follow my selected path”. Hearing this, I deeply admired this girl for her bravery in pursuing her own career because not everyone dares to choose their own path before the life threshold like she did.
In February 2022, after completing her studies in Northern Electricity College, Yen was eager to return and contribute to her hometown. Around that time, SCI Lai Chau Joint Stock Company was recruiting an operator for the Nam Lum 1, Nam Lum 2, and Nam Xe projects which were in their final stages before COD. Yen applied and underwent a rigorous training program and became an official grid operator in her family’s sense of happiness and pride. Not pausing at the operator position, as an excellent operator, she was appointed by the Company take the shift leader exam at the Northern National Load Dispatch Centre. After intense preparation and with her accumulated knowledge and experience, the pretty Thai ethnic girl has successfully obtained the shift leader certificate which is not easily attainable.
Just hearing her storytelling, I picked the vegetables with her, glancing at her dexterity in picking up the vegetables, I thought she must be skillful at managing the housework. I was also additionally shared of her family information with her eyes of joy and pride. “I am lucky to have grown up in a fully affectionate family. Despite living in a challenging ethnic region, my parents always encouraged me to study hard for a better life and contribute to society and the village. They are my role models. My parents endured many difficulties at their generation but my father was determined to undertake his education to become a commune officer, and my brother followed in his footsteps returning to the commune after graduation to serve our hometown. My mother is skillful at housework and especially good at cooking, so she was recruited to be a cook for our plant, sis. Staying near the family is of my great blessedness” Her eyes sparkled with affection as she looked at her mother.
Suddenly thinking of what a colleague once said: As the unique “rose” in the team despite her slight “grid-tied” experience, her work is as heavy as that of her male colleagues” thanks to her attitude, eagerness, and sense of responsibility. When I asked about her work and her passion for it, Yen admitted, “I was initially worried about starting the work because as a frail and delicate woman, I wonder whether I could do such a tough job as the male colleagues. But thanks to the support of my superiors and colleagues, I gradually became proficient in the work of an operator, from meter reading, and periodic meter replacement, to upgrading the 5S standards and clearing electrical corridors, etc. I have done it all alongside the team.”
“The job is especially stressful during bad weather or holidays when electrical grids are more prone to malfunctions. To ensure the safe and uninterrupted operation of the power grid, shift leaders must maintain a high level of concentration with their eyes 'glued' to the electrical diagram screens to monitor the load fluctuations” Yen shared and added “All parameters are analyzed by the on-duty shift leaders who quickly diagnose the points of failure, manage the shifts, and operate the machinery skillfully. For the shift leader, they must isolate the affected areas and restore power as quickly as possible. For shift leaders, there is absolutely no room for error; even the smallest mistake or a single incorrect command can impact human lives and cause damage to property, equipment, and the overall power grid."
"Besides working as the shift leader in the control room, I still take on regular shifts like the other team members. The operation shift work does not follow the standard office hours but must adhere to a very strict shift schedule. A day is divided into two shifts: the morning shift starts at 7 AM, and the night shift is from 7 PM to 7 AM the next day. Whenever it's time for a shift, regardless of whether it's sunny, raining, or during flooding, the female operator is in her SCI uniform and heads out. Particularly, to do this job, one must have a solid understanding of the equipment and operating systems of the station, and be proactive, agile, and resourceful in all situations. In cases where equipment or machinery overheats, circuit breakers trip, or alarms signal a ground fault, the operator must quickly assess the situation to devise timely solutions. Moreover, the female operators are also ready to climb high to clean, connect, or disconnect equipment and machinery upon required or signaled. “Every Tet holiday, when I see other women dressed up in beautiful clothes going out with their loved ones, I’m busy with my operational shift in protective gear and sometimes feel a pang of sadness. I know this job is tough and dangerous and not easy for women, but gradually, due to the work and my passion for the profession, I have gotten used to it, sis. When I first started the work, I would often panic and lose my composure in case of any incident occurred, especially when I heard the loud rumbling of machines, the shaking of engines, or saw smoke billowing… it would make my heart skip a beat. But now, after being involved in operating the equipment, I find myself enjoying the constant rumble and hum of the machines."
Yen laughed, “Thinking of the powerplant and transformer station operators, people all assume this job is only for men. Even I feel the same sometimes, especially when the guys joke, saying that I’m like a man now."
Mr. Sang, the director of Nam Xe plant, shared: 'Personally, I have great admiration to Yến. She may be small in stature, but when she works, she is incredibly precise in giving commands and quickly resolves any issues that arise at the plant. Despite the busy and demanding nature of the job, I always see her with a smile on her face."
"I asked her 'With such a busy and demanding job, how do you balance your work with personal interests?' She revealed that she has a passion for traveling to many places to expand her knowledge and enjoy the unique aspects of different regions and people. Whenever she’s not on duty, she takes the opportunity to travel with friends to beautiful local spots to enjoy the natural surroundings and capture beautiful photos of her youth.
"I asked her quietly: With your charm, your boyfriend must be keeping a close watch, right?”, She blushed, 'Actually, I’m the one keeping an eye on him, sis! My boyfriend is also in the electricity industry, working as a shift leader at a power plant in Lai Châu, so we really understand and sympathize with each other, especially during busy shifts.' A gentle smile lit up her face as her eyes sparkled with happiness. She whispered, 'In two months, I’m getting married. I’ll send you an invitation—please come celebrate with us, sis!' I was truly happy that she shared this with me, knowing that she had found her true love and the safe harbor of her life. I wish her endless happiness and hope she continues to keep her passion for the electricity industry, just like when she was a child.
