London Commodity Brokers (LCB) partnered with McCloskey to host a stunning reception for the McCloskey South African Coal Exports Conference in Cape Town on Wednesday 02 February 2011 and to celebrate the convergence of the world's coal community.
South African Minister for Mining and Resources, Susan Shabangu, and the CEO of the Limpopo Provisional Government, Motalane Monakedi, joined 300 industry leaders, participants and watchers, including LCB coal brokers from London, Dubai and Hong Kong, for a traditional South African braai (barbeque), spectacular sunset views of the Cape, and valuable conversation about the opportunities and challenges facing the world's miners and movers of coal in 2011 and beyond.
The conference itself provided an in-depth look at the South African coal industry's response to its domestic energy demands, as well as those of Asia's, and in particular India's burgeoning coal-fuelled power sector.
Our own senior coal broker, Helene Mitreva, presented on the topic of the continuing commoditisation of the coal market - how it was in Europe and is now in Asia, how it will evolve in the coming years, and how it will change to accomodate growing demands in the East, new environmental constraints, and ongoing cultural differences.
LCB's brokers also attended a guided tour of Coal of Africa's thermal coal project, Mooiplaats, located 65 metres underground in South Africa's Mpumalanga Province, adding to the practical knowledge and insights they bring to broking for their clients.