As world energy markets enter The Freezer, focus will shine even more brightly on the unrivalled qualities of South America’s coals. Such are their efficiencies that the established mega-mines of Colombia will prosper in any realistically conceivable market condition.But South America is about much more than the world’s lowest cost operations: as quality declines in Indonesia, South Africa and Australia, the high quality coals in both La Jagua and Venezuela’s Zulia province offer the opposite with coals able to switch into the steam, industrial or met markets as conditions demand. And the steady progress of developing the inland resources of coking coal continues steadily, if not spectacularly.

The comforting certainties of South America’s coals and producers are of course matched in equal measure by a nightmare of uncertainties: Deep concerns about the state of the markets; is Cerrejon ready for A Great Leap Forward to 40mt/yr-plus? Will politics ease its pressure on Venezuelan production and development? Will Drummond ever hit the 40mt of production it once proclaimed was in its grasp?

Uniquely our Cartagena conference does not merely provide presentations by all the senior executives in the Colombian market, but it has always had strong political support. The 2009 event will be addressed by both the Ministers of Transportation and Mines & Energy to guide delegates on the government’s efforts to help companies tackle the obstacles in mine and infrastructure development as well as environmental requirements.

From the World Coal To Liquids Conference website:

The international reference event for CTL, World CTL 2009 is the place to hear the most authoritative experts and decision makers present their views on key issues driving the emerging CTL industry.