Napocor to bid out P190-million power projects in Visayas

MANILA, Philippines - State-run power generation firm National Power Corp. (Napocor) will bid out over P190 million worth of electrification projects in the Visayas, particularly in Samar province.

Documents showed the agency has invited interested parties to build a mini-grid system to provide power to four towns in the Western Visayas province.

Based on the documents, Napocor plans to energize eight barangays in the towns of Almagro 1 and 2, Catbalogan ang Tarangnan.

Napocor said the project cost will cover the supply of materials, labor, delivery, installation, test and commissioning of the proposed mini-grid system.

A pre-bidding for the four projects is scheduled on Sept. 1. The bid proper will be held on Sept. 16 and 17 on a two-barangay each bidding basis.

After the sale of most of its big power plants, Napocor’s role as stipulated in the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) will be focused on small power utilities group (SPUG) operations or off-grid electrification projects.

Napocor president Froilan Tampinco said they may seek assistance from experts and consultants in exploring all possible ways to expand its off-grid operations.

He said they may tap local and foreign consultants in the near term.

“These consultants will help in determining businesses that [Napocor] can get into, given a particular market environment, and how to improve present systems to optimize use of corporate resources,” the Napocor chief said.  — Donnabelle Gatdula