Rob Yeates is Project Director of the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group (NCIG) and head of one of NSW most anticipated infrastructure projects - The New Loader. NCIG was formed in 2004 by a group of Hunter Valley coal producers wanting a better coal export chain to link them to the growing Asian coal market. Vessel queues and allocation schemes indicated that there was a serious problem. In 2005 land was granted, funding was obtained and construction is now underway.

Facility shareholders BHP Billiton, Peabody Energy, Felix Resources, Whitehaven Coal, Donaldson Coal and Centennial Coal are all increasing their exports. The talk will cover the rationale, strategy, implications, hurdles, and the innovative funding and future plans for the terminal. Rob Yeates, having been with NCIG from the start, is well placed to talk on this important new billion dollar development.

In April 2007, life became stressful for Gloucester Coal (GCL) when it found itself in the cross-hairs of Xstrata, a powerful predator that bid $4.75ps. The bid was via a Scheme of Arrangement which the Board of Gloucester Coal recommended shareholders accept, subject to there not being a higher offer.

But in the run-up to the shareholder meeting in July, the Noble Group and AMCI became substantial shareholders with 10.4% and 10% respectively. Not surprisingly, shareholders turned down the Xstrata offer. Rob Lord took over the reins as MD last October and GCL today, even after the recent market correction, trades at a 50% premium to the Xstrata offer price, giving it a capitalisation of $590M, reflecting the buoyant conditions in the coal market. Gloucester is producing 1.80MT of met and steaming coal from its 100% owned operation in the Gloucester Basin north of Newcastle - entirely for export.

The recent surprise discovery of the Clarevale Seam, a juicy, high yield slab of coking coal has transformed the company's outlook for the future and has increased the interest to predators. Already constrained by the capacity of Newcastle Port, GCL is planning for a hike in production over the next 18 months.

Remember to book at least three days ahead of the event.