The Natural Gas Expo held at the Gospel Tabernacle in Coudersport, PA was a great success. I understand that more than 3000 people attended the event. I think that is a great showing for the first time. I made contacts that will help us develop opportunities for industrial construction projects and I am sure other found opportunities that will benefit them as well. While checking for reviews on the Expo I found a positive article in the Olean Times Herald about gas production in NY. Check it out.

http://www.oleantimesherald.com/articles/2010/03/23/news/doc4ba90129f32c2239662552.txt

Steel prices have increased an average of 6% in the past few weeks.  This includes pre-engineered metal building systems, rebar, and raw steel.  All indications are that the cost of steel may become more volatile during 2010.  Steel plants are raising prices to cover costs of running furnaces that aren’t producing steel.  China is rumored to be buying up coke mines so that they can control the cost of the raw materials. 

 

Although we at Kessel Construction don’t anticipate a return to the extreme volatility of pricing in 2008, we do see a trend of increasing prices.  Pre-planning of upcoming projects will help in locking in prices before they increase.

The date for one of the most exciting Expo's to hit the area after the Kinzua Outdoor & Travel Show is quickly coming upon us.

The Natural Gas Expo; McKean, Potter & Cameron Counties will be held on Wednesday March 17th and Thursday March 18th at the Gospel Tabernacle in Coudersport, PA.

Admission is FREE and anyone wanting to learn more about the industry should plan to attend.

This will be an event to bring students & educators to the industries service providers to understand the needs of this growing and dynamic industry.

Wednesday 03/17 will be full of students form area high school Tech programs as well as local higher level learning institutions (Pitt Bradford & Penn Tech College). There will be seminars repeated all day long in regards to the educational & occupational needs of the industry.

Thursday 03/18 is slated for business to business activities. Some of the largest players in the Marcellus Play & Natural Gas Industry will be there:

- Pennsylvania General Energy

- East Resources

- Dresser Pipe Works

- Gas Field Specialists

- Universal Well Services

- Fastenal

to name just of few of the developers, pipeline contractors, drillers and associated service providers to the industry.

There will be seminars repeated all day long with topics on "How to get engaged with the Gas Industry", Natural Gas Well Drilling, Water Resources of the industry.

Kessel Construction will be there with a double booth to promote their services to the industry. Currently, we are introducing a light gauge, tubular steel framed building with metal roof & walls that is finding a nice fit for "soft set" compressor stations in the Marcellus play.  This product is competitively priced and features maintenance free exterior walls and roof. Additionally, for sound absorption they have blanket insulation.

A unique outcome from the event organizers of the EXPO is a full color directory of all the service providers in the area.

We look forward to seeing you there!

www.natural-gas-expo.com

Additional signs that the economy is moving in the right direction;

major foreign companies looking to buy our resources. The kind of resources to produce big stuff like… steel and energy.

Coal is known as two types;

- metallurgic- used to heat generate the high heat/ energy needed for steel production

- thermal- used by energy plants to produce energy/ electricity

The most recent is real close to home in the Central Appalachian region. An Indian company is looking to buy a US coal company in order to control a key resource needed to produce coal. The same firm is a major producer of steel to global market.

This comes after hearing recently that foreign interests are also looking to buy “Coke “ operations a key raw material in making steel.

Let’s hope that these are good signs for the economy as a key material for industry production and growth, steel is being produced. Additionally, the raw materials and resources to produce steel and energy are seeing activity.

Finally, after the crazy steel price escalation of a few summers ago, let's hope that prices are not driven out of site due to key suppliers controlling not only the steel but the raws and energy that go into it.