The National Power Corp. (NAPOCOR) is looking into private-sector partnerships to help speed up the deployment of renewable energy in far-flung and off-grid areas in the country. 

In a report by the Philippine Star, NAPOCOR president Fernando Martin Roxas said that the past year was a challenge for state-owned corporations, particularly with the sudden rise of fuel prices in the global market. 

Roxas said the incidents highlighted their “heavy dependence on fossil fuels and the consequences it entails.” 

As the government pushes for the use of clean and renewable energy, NAPOCOR said it is looking to increase the use of renewable energy in its service areas through partnerships with the private sector. 

In September last year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) allowed NAPOCOR to acquire bank loans to support its operations. 

Energy secretary Raphael Lotilla earlier asked NAPOCOR to consider the use of nuclear power like small nuclear reactors. 

NAPOCOR, as mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform of 2001, is mandated to provide power generation and its associated power delivery systems in areas not connected to the transmission system.