LONDON, June 14 (Reuters) - Mercuria has hired Goldman

Sachs' ( GS ) Nicholas Snowdon for its metals team as the energy trader

seeks to expand its presence in the sector which includes energy

transition materials, two sources with knowledge of the matter

told Reuters.

Snowdon starts with Mercuria in August, according to one of

the sources, and will work alongside another high-profile hire,

Trafigura's former co-head of metals Kostas Bintas.

Goldman Sachs ( GS ) and Mercuria declined to comment. Snowdon

could not be reached for comment.

His departure from Goldman follows that of Jeff Currie,

Goldman's former head of commodities research, who joined

private equity giant Carlyle in February this year to

lead energy transition analysis.

Other energy traders are also moving back into the metals

sector, looking for the lucrative opportunities expected from

the energy transition which includes electric vehicles and

renewable energy technology.

Energy transition metals include copper, aluminium, nickel,

tin and cobalt.