Bermuda Land Development Company Limited (BLDC) today announces an exciting new phase in its long-term plan to redevelop land for economic growth, infrastructure improvement and job opportunities in Bermuda. BLDC invites local and international companies to submit their qualifications to be considered for future proposals to design, build and operate two major infrastructure projects in the East End – an energy generation facility and a cargo port at Ships Wharf (A.K.A. Marginal Wharf). The RFQ (Request for Qualifications) processes for both infrastructure projects begin today, and will close on May 23, 2018.

Formed in 1996, BLDC is a private company created to steward the development and management of land and buildings previously occupied by the US and Canadian military. Francis Mussenden, CEO of BLDC notes, “Our mandate is to evaluate and support redevelopment options that strengthen the social and economic fabric of Bermuda.  After a comprehensive three-year exploratory period on how best to potentially use the land at Ships Wharf, and upon consideration of various ideas submitted by our community through the Expression of Interest (EOI) process, we are excited to launch the next phase of redevelopment in the East End.”

Minister of Public Works, Lt. Col. the Hon. David Burch, OBE (Mil), ED, JP, MP endorsed the BLDC initiative, stating, “The potential projects at Ships Wharf are of national interest, and will provide short and long-term jobs and business opportunities in the East End.  The projects will also improve Bermuda’s infrastructure with potential improvements in energy generation and cargo operations that will benefit both residents and businesses on the island. We commend the BLDC for their work to date, and look forward to the next steps in the redevelopment process.”

Why an energy facility?  Minister David Burch says, “Since the current energy infrastructure is nearing the end of its life cycle, an additional energy facility would help improve stability and reliability, especially during times of peak demand and emergency situations.”  The expectation is that the proposed facility would have a minimal generation capacity of 20 megawatts to add to BELCO’s existing power grid. As of April 2017, Bermuda’s current capacity was 160 megawatts.  This redevelopment project provides the opportunity to explore ways to reduce the cost of electricity, and investigate reliable and sustainable energy using modern technology and cost-effective resources.”

Why a cargo port? A cargo port at Ships Wharf will increase Bermuda’s capacity of Bermuda and facilitate the provision of potential new services. A new cargo port could be designed to accommodate two ships thereby increasing efficiency, support diversification into Atlantic transshipping, and allow investigation into other services, such as fish processing. Minister David Burch further explains, “The location could also accommodate bonded warehouses on site that would facilitate the breakdown of containerized goods at the port, enabling the transporting of goods in smaller vehicles on Bermuda’s roads.”

The proposed developments at Ships Wharf are expected to be completed over several years, following the selection of the most viable partners for each project. “These are exciting times for Bermuda. Along with the global economy, Bermuda’s economy is growing and we are preparing for the future,” says Mr. Mussenden. “We look forward to engaging with all members of the community as we invest in new opportunities for the East End. We encourage Bermuda’s residents to participate in dialogues and provide input on the upcoming projects through community engagement sessions and other discussions to be scheduled in the coming months.”

Asked specifically about the impact of the potential projects to East End residents and existing tenants at Ships Wharf, Mr. Mussenden said, “BLDC will support possible transitions and future opportunities for current tenants during the redevelopment process. We will be meeting with tenants later this month, and look forward to their ongoing input as we move forward.” Mr. Mussenden also intends to consult with East End residents prior to final decisions on land use and any possible impacts, noting that, “These projects are for the long-term benefit of Bermudians, and we look forward to community input at each stage of the process.”

The proposed Energy Production Facility and Cargo Plant are both expected to exceed US$150m, and take several years to complete. Details and requirements for the two RFQ processes are available on BLDC’s website – www.bldc.bm. This process allows BLDC to evaluate the qualifications of potential local and international partners in the redevelopment of Ships Wharf, and short list developers who will be invited to submit innovative infrastructure proposals through the RFP (Request for Proposal) process later this year. Questions about the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process requirements and submissions should be emailed to info@bldc.bm.