I've been saying for awhile that Asian coal is the place to be.
Yet another indicator this week. Thai energy major PTT announced a deal yesterday to buy Australia's Straits Resources for $550 million.
Straits' assets are... Asian (or Asian-shipable) coal deposits. Indonesia, Brunei and Madagascar. (The latter which I mentioned in a previous letter will be a hotspot for coal. You've been warned.)
Seeing Thailand step into the fray shows just how many Asian players are desperately seeking coal supply. Add this to China, Japan and lately India (where nearly 40% of coal-fired power plants are now running on "critical" levels of coal stockpiles, according to the Central Electricity Authority).
This is a trend that's just getting started. Good coal assets in the Asian sphere are getting very, very valuable.
By. Dave Forest of Notela Resources
