The northern region of Vietnam will face a shortage of around 1,200-2,500 MW of electricity this summer, according to the Northern Power Service Company.

The Northern Power Service Company has planned to buy some 2.56 billion kWh of electricity from China through a 220-kV transmission line to supply the provinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai and Thai Nguyen.

Under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) will have to announce the electricity supply plan for the peak time of this year’s dry season. The firm has been assigned to report the plan on material preparations for its thermal power plants and scenarios on solutions before March 15.

Dang Hoang An, chairman of EVN, said that the group has prepared for an electricity growth rate of 9.4-9.8 percent this year to meet the country’s GDP growth of 6-6.50 percent.

Earlier, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for drastic efforts to speed up the implementation of key and pressing power projects to ensure an adequate supply of power in 2024 and the following years.

The government leader also asked for a focus on completing the mechanism and policies for direct purchases between renewable energy producers and large customers together with a mechanism to encourage rooftop solar, which must be submitted for consideration before the end of this month, the Vietnam News Agency said.

EVN recently proposed to import electricity produced by wind power from Laos to reduce the risks of power shortages for the northern region.