20/11/2004 00:00
TW
0
Staff Reporter DIRECTOR General of the power supply company in the Balearics, Gesa Endesa, Jaime Reguart, stated yesterday that it is “essential” that natural gas is supplied “as soon as possible” to the Islands.

He warned that in spite of the fact that Enagas is already working on the project, the gas “won't reach the Balearics by 2007”.
Reguart was speaking at an “Environmental Sustainability and Business” congress organised by the Balearic Business Federation (CAEB) and attended by several different industrial sectors. “I hope that the original deadlines will be met and everyone who is working on the gas pipeline project believes that that will be the case, but I do not think that it will arrive by 2007”, said Reguart, who gave an overview of the activity and practical experience of Gesa within industrial development designed to respect the environment.

Reguart explained that plans are afoot for the central plant at Son Reus to run off natural gas. “Each year, costs soar, not only in fuel but in terms of stress on the machinery. In order to compensate, better maintenance is needed” he signalled.

For Reguart, sustainability (industry developing within the limits of the environment) is a “demand increasingly made” by society, a key factor which obliges businesses to use environmental consideration in its competitive strategy.

He said that other companies are already looking to the future with this policy in mind; what will be needed is dialogue and co-operation with all affected by industrial development to find the best solutions.

During the opening ceremony, the president of CAEB, Josep Oliver, declared that corporate responsibility for how industry impacts on society and the environment should not be an additional “tag” on company management, but rather the opposite. Such responsibility should be incorporated into the core of business operations, where long term planning may be key to the survival of an ecosystem, he signalled.

The president said that increasingly, such a policy is not simply seen as good individual company strategy, but it is also a contribution to the longer term prosperity of businees. “It is the duty of companies to contribute to sustainable industrial development, by talking with their staff, the local community and society at large, in order that quality of life can be maintained as high as possible”, concluded Oliver.