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Cockatoo Coal said the heavy rainfall in the Baralaba region and Dawson River catchment area had restricted access to its 62.5%-owned Baralaba mine.
Consequently, mining is suspended until ingress to and egress from the Bowen Basin operation is secure.
Cockatoo’s exploration in the Surat Basin has also been affected, along with Peabody’s Wilkie Creek mine in the coal region, which ceased production at the start of the month.
A Peabody spokesperson told ILN that force majeure was declared after severe rainfall which saw 145mm of rain falling on the Wilkie Creek site between March 1 and 3, about four times the historical March average.
“The rain is continuing to fall heavily and the impact of this has been to cause extensive localised flooding to several of the production pits and damage to the haul roads and other site facilities,” she said late Friday afternoon.
“The near-term weather forecast is for continuing significant rain events for the next two days.
“The rainfall event has prevented mining operations at the site and as a result no coal is stockpiled or is available for loading. Therefore, no train loading can occur until coal stocks can be re-established.
“We plan to remedy or abate the FM event by introducing additional equipment to dewater pits and permit increased mine production following recommencement of operations.”
The heavy rain forced Queensland Rail to impose 60km per hour speed restrictions on sections of the Goonyella, Moura and Blackwater rail systems last week.
