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COALTRANS CONFERENCE, 1994

The Coaltrans '94 Conference, a major conference for those dealing in coal throughout the world, will be held at the Congress Centrum, Hamburg, Germany from 24 to 26 October 1994.

The first day of the Conference naturally divides into two, namely Coal Supply Aspects and Coal Demand Aspects. Minister Botha will deliver the Conference's Opening Supply Keynote Address at 13:45 on 24 October 1994. The title of the speech will be "A new South Afria: Coal Exports in Political Trnasition".

In 1991 in Berlin the Conference was attended by 998 delegates, in 1992 in Nice by 1 185 and last year in Amsterdam by 1 215. Indications are that this year's Conference will be even better attended. The largest number of delegates were from Western Europe and North America. Attendance from Eastern Europe more than doubled in 1993. A record number from Asia attended Coaltrans '93 and delegates from this region as well as Australia are expected to increase. Interest form Latin America has grown in recent years.

South Afirca is given special mention as a drawcard in the promotional literature of the Transcoal Conference. "We hope that the acceptance of South Africa into the international community, following the successful election of the Government of National Unity, will lead to increased attendance," says the Conference brochure. South Africa is the only country to be the topic of three speeches, despite it being only a "supply" nation as apposed to some nations which both produce and buy coal. Competitors for the honours include great coal-selling and/or buying nations like Australia, Britain, Germany, Japah, China, Poland and Russia.

In his speech, Minister Botha will be dealing with the implications of the new democratic dispensation in South Africa insofar as the coal industry is concerned. Questions he will address will include: What is the new Government of National Unity's general economic policy? What will happen to existing mineral rights? Will the industry be changed and if so, how fast and in what direction? What can purchasers of South African coal expect from the South African Government in the years immediately ahead?

After his participation in the Coaltrans Conference, the Minister will proceed to Paris where he will promote minerals and energy related investments in order to further encourage South Afric'a economic growth in those sectors. He will also be exploring ways of improving minerals beneficiation in South Africa and increasing the purchases of our raw materials.

Inquiries: R Darrol
Tel: (021) 462 2310
(012) 322 8695

Coal (SEP) 7/11