Napocor eyes PPP scheme for new project

MANILA, Philippines — The National Power Corp. (Napocor) is set to conduct a market sounding activity for its accelerated hybridization project (AHP) on Thursday to determine private sector interest, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center said.

In a project advisory, the PPP Center said interested firms are invited to take part in the market sounding for the project scheduled on Sept.7 at the Fiesta Hall in the head office of Napocor in Quezon City.

According to the PPP Center, the proposed project of Napocor “will allow the private sector to enter into off-grid areas and put up renewable energy generation plants or facilities to supplement, augment or replace the existing capacities in the operations of the SPUG (Small Power Utilities Group) diesel power plants.”

The project aims to reduce the universal charge for missionary electrification subsidies as well as the use of diesel fuel.

It also seeks to increase the capacities to be installed in the off-grid areas to meet peak and increasing loads of electric cooperatives or distribution utilities from renewable resources.

It also aims to provide a mechanism for electric cooperatives or distribution utilities to meet the requirements of the Renewable Portfolio Standards for off-grid areas set by the Department of Energy.

Napocor earlier said it is looking at PPPs to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy in its service areas.

The PPP Center serves as the central coordinating and monitoring agency for all PPP projects in the country.

As part of its mandate, it provides technical assistance to national government agencies, government-owned-and controlled corporations, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges, and local government units in the development and implementation of critical infrastructure and other development projects.