Belco Holdings Ltd. signalled on Friday the power company?s desire to be on board for Government?s promise to develop a sustainable development plan.

In a letter to shareholders, Belco president and CEO Garry Madeiros that after recent media reports that Government would launch a project team to develop the plan this month: ?We are watching this development with interest and will seek to become involved, as the production, transmission and distribution of electricity to all of the Island is integral to any sustainable development plan.?

Mr. Madeiros said sustainable development was an all encompassing concept that needed to take into consideration ?every aspect of life?. He said the company had long been looking at what facility development would be necessary to meet the future energy demands of the Island.

?In 1993, as we were planning for the imminent development of the second phase of our East Power Station plant, we embarked on a comprehensive public programme to engage all aspects of the community in dialogue about the need to earmark land, beyond our Serpentine Road location, as a site for future electricity generation plant,? he said.

But Mr. Madeiros cautioned that little thought had been put to this by other parties in the years since: ?While there was significant public interest in our presentations (held at Number One Shed), outside of Belco there has been no serious consideration of the issue since then.?

Mr. Madeiros said Belco, in tandem with its commissioning of two new 14.3 medium speed diesel engines this spring, would again take discussions on future plant needs to Government and the public.

Mr. Madeiros said bringing in the diesel engines marked the fourth, and possibly final phase of a 20-year expansion plan at Belco?s Serpentine Road site.

?Once again, we will be bringing to the public, and more specifically to Government, the requirements we envision for the Island?s electricity system going forward,? he said.

Mr. Madeiros concluded: ?Bermuda?s sustainable development plan must be comprehensive, formulated through an inclusive process that leverages the widespread knowledge, technical expertise and social conscience of the community.

?We look forward to being part of the process, working with Government and the community to find common ground and arrive at solutions to some of the very complicated issues that are vital to meeting Bermuda?s future needs.?