Chinese majority-owned coal producer Yancoal has announced that its open-pit mines Yarrabee and Middlemount have been affected by the heavy rainfalls impacting Australia's Queensland region. Production from the mines is likely to be impacted for at least three weeks, while the timing for commencement of coal mining remains uncertain.
Coal exports from Queensland are reported to have worsened as the cyclone Oswald disrupted rail links at Blackwater and caused problems at Gladstone port. Australian rail freight company Aurizon stated that rail lines will be reopened within seven to 10 days.
Xstrata has declared force majeure on its thermal coal exports, while BHP Billiton said that it is still assessing the impact to its operations across the Bowen Basin.
