Ukraine in particular (smaller map insert) was particularly well covered (more that below).
GOELRO plan
The GOELRO Plan (State Commission for Electrification of Russia) was the first Soviet plan for national economic recovery and development, focusing on the electrification of the country.
It was proposed after the Russian Civil War, in 1920, and was an essential component of the Soviet economic policy during the early years of the Soviet Union under Lenin’s leadership.
Key Aspects of the GOELRO Plan:
- Background and Objective:
- The plan was initiated as a response to the dire economic conditions following the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent Civil War. The goal was to reconstruct and develop the Russian economy by modernizing its infrastructure, with a particular focus on electricity as a driving force for industrial and agricultural development.
- Vision and Strategy:
- The GOELRO Plan aimed to create a unified energy system across the Soviet Union. It proposed the construction of 30 regional power stations, including 10 large hydroelectric power plants on major rivers and 20 thermal power plants. This electrification was to cover both industrial centers and rural areas, which had been largely underdeveloped.
- Impact and Implementation:
- The plan was the first example of centralized economic planning in the Soviet Union, laying the groundwork for future Five-Year Plans. It played a significant role in transforming the Soviet economy, helping it transition from a predominantly agrarian society to an industrial one.
- Between 1920 and 1931, the implementation of the GOELRO Plan resulted in a substantial increase in power generation. By the time the plan was completed in 1931, electric power generation had increased about threefold compared to pre-revolutionary levels.
- Legacy:
- The GOELRO Plan is considered a foundational step in the Soviet Union’s journey toward becoming a global industrial power. It marked the beginning of the era of planned economies in the Soviet Union, influencing not only Soviet economic policy but also inspiring other socialist and planned economies around the world.
- Significance in Soviet History:
- The plan represented a key moment in Soviet history, showcasing the use of science and technology as tools for economic transformation. It also played a vital role in consolidating the Bolshevik regime, as electrification became a symbol of progress and modernization.
The GOELRO Plan is often remembered for Lenin’s famous phrase: “Communism is Soviet power plus the electrification of the whole country,” highlighting its ideological as well as economic significance.
Now I was trying to find data on how much electricity the country produced in 1959. But unfortatly couldn’t find anything going back that far, the best I could find was the data from this CIA report going back to 1970:
| Year | Total | Fossil Fuel | Hydro | Nuclear | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 740.9 | 613.0 | 124.4 | 3.5 | |
| 1971 | 800.4 | 670.3 | 126.1 | 4.0 | |
| 1972 | 857.4 | 727.0 | 122.9 | 7.3 | 0.2a |
| 1973 | 914.6 | 780.3 | 122.3 | 11.7 | 0.3a |
| 1974 | 975.8 | 825.4 | 132.0 | 18.0 | 0.4a |
| 1975 | 1,038.6 | 891.8 | 126.0 | 20.2 | 0.6 |
| 1976 | 1,111.4 | 950.1 | 135.7 | 25.0 | 0.6a |
| 1977 | 1,150.1 | 968.5 | 147.0 | 34.0 | 0.6a |
| 1978 | 1,201.9 | 986.8 | 169.7 | 44.8 | 0.6a |
| 1979 | 1,238.2 | 1,010.8 | 172.0 | 54.8 | 0.6a |
| 1980 | 1,293.9 | 1,037.1 | 183.9 | 72.9 | 0.6 |
| 1981 | 1,326.0 | 1,053.1 | 186.7 | 85.6 | 0.6a |
| 1982 | 1,367.1 | 1,093.1 | 174.7 | 98.7 | 0.6a |
| 1983 | 1,418.1 | 1,127.3 | 180.4 | 109.8 | 0.6a |
| 1984 | 1,492.1 | 1,146.5 | 203.0 | 142.0 | 0.6a |
| 1985 | 1,544.1 | 1,161.6 | 214.5 | 167.4 | 0.6 |
| 1986 | 1,598.9 | 1,222.4 | 215.7 | 160.8 | 0.6a |
| 1987 | 1,664.9 | 1,257.5 | 219.8 | 187.0 | 0.6a |
| 1988 | 1,705.1 | 1,258.0 | 230.8 | 215.7 | 0.6a |
| 1989 | 1,722 | 1,273b | 225b | 223b | 0.6a |
a Estimated.
b Preliminary.
Now to put some of those numbers into some perceptive.
In 1989, Russian electricity production per capita is estimated to have been 7,306 kWh and has since grown to 8,152 kWh in 2023 a +12% increase.
Ukraine went from 5,735 kWh per capita in 1989 down to 2,814 kWh a 51% decline.
And finally, the US went from 12,882 kWh in 1989 to 12,497 kWh in 2023 a 3% decline.
Moreover, 51.48% of Russia’s trains are electrified compared to only 0.84% of US trains.
Therefore looking at the numbers, Russia’s electrification efforts going back to the founding of the Soviet Union were one of the few bright spots in terms of real concrete economic achievements.
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