The ministry is required to carefully evaluate the current electricity supply situation and related factors that could affect power supply while instructing EVN to build scenarios in response to the power shortage, the PM said in a directive.

All work must be completed by June 10.

The PM also asked the trade ministry to speed up the negotiations on solar and wind power purchasing within June.

The PM ordered EVN to mobilise all resources and make the best efforts to ensure electricity to avoid causing massive power cuts during the dry season.

EVN should remove difficulties to put power plants in the northern region into operation as soon as possible.

The directive came as many parts of the northern region, including Hanoi, Ha Nam, Halong and Vinh Phuc have suffered massive power outages over the past days, affecting business production and tourism activities.

The prolonged heat wave and impacts from the El Nino phenomenon have led to a surge in power demand while the lack of rain has left hydropower dams in the northern provinces short of water, greatly affecting electricity generation capacity during the dry season.