Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Management general manager Greg Smith has confirmed that BMA held talks to take up its capacity footprint on the Dalrymple Bay coal terminal.

 

“They have had a discussion about their future requirements,” Smith told International Longwall News.

 

“They have indicated they wish to exercise their footprint from April.”

 

The Dalrymple Bay coal terminal has an aggregate capacity of 84.32 million tonnes per annum which is split between some of the major suppliers in the Bowen Basin, including Peabody Energy and Xstrata Coal.

 

BMA has an unrevealed allocation as part of the total capacity of the terminal which it can exercise when the Hay Point terminal is out of action.

 

“This is a perfect time to truly test the terminal’s name plate capacity,” Smith said.

 

“We expect to get 100 per cent utilisation with all the coal mining companies sending their cargos through. “I have no doubt that it can handle the throughput the terminal.”

 

A spokeswoman for BHP Billiton, the joint venture partner with Mitsubishi in BMA,

said the company had no comment at this stage.

 

“The Hay Point coal terminal remains closed following suspension of operations on March 11 due to poor weather conditions,” she said.

 

“Railings to the terminal ceased on Thursday, March 18. Some mines suspended operations to ensure safety.

 

“The terminal has sustained some offshore damage from Cyclone Ului to walkways, cabling and platforms. An early and incomplete assessment suggests that it will take three to six weeks for both berths to return to full operation.”