Heavy rainfall disrupts Australian metallurgical coal supplies

Heavy rainfall in northeast Australia has triggered floods that are hampering mine operations and disrupting supplies of metallurgical coal in the region.

Some coal miners have declared force majeure on portions of their shipments or warned customers of potential delays, according to traders, who asked not to be named as they are not authorized to speak to the media. The companies include Stanmore Resources Ltd., GM3 — a joint venture between Golden Energy and Resources and M Resources Ltd. — as well as Pembroke Resources Pty Ltd. and Fitzroy Coal Sales Pty Ltd.

Major miners such as Anglo American Plc and Glencore Plc have also been impacted but have not declared force majeure, the traders said. Argus Media reported that the road and rail disruptions had limited Glencore’s ability to supply copper concentrate for multiple days.

The disruptions follow an unusually wet start to summer in Queensland state, where some areas have seen rainfall close to their monthly precipitation averages weeks earlier than normal, due in part to Tropical Cyclone Koji.

Forecasters are warning that another weather system could form over the region from Monday, potentially compounding the impact on mining and transport operations.

Elsewhere in Australia, heavy rain is affecting parts of Victoria, with flash floods sweeping away cars on Great Ocean Road.

Stanmore, GM3, Pembroke, Fitzroy Coal, Anglo and Glencore did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

(By Paul-Alain Hunt and Katharine Gemmell)