Regional Coal: Rio Tinto declares force majeure on Queensland coal mines

Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto announced on Wednesday that as a result of severe monsoonal rain in central and northern Queensland, force majeure has been declared on coal sales contracts from mines in which its coal unit Rio Tinto Coal Australia is a majority interest.

The mines are Hail Creek, Kestrel, Blair Athol and Clermont in Queensland?s Bowen Basin, the company said in statement.

The severe monsoonal rain, on top of the significant rainfalls in November and December, has had an adverse impact on mining operations, and has cut access roads and rail networks, it said.

As rain is continuing to fall in the region and further rains are forecast, Rio Tinto Coal Australia is currently unable to provide an estimate of the full impact of this adverse weather or the duration of the force majeure declaration

?While all efforts are being made to minimise the impact of this adverse weather on coal production, our primary focus at this time is on the safety and well-being of our employees and their families,? it added. (denny)