In December the first stage of the port’s expansion was completed, lifting the export capacity to its current level of 72 million tonnes per annum, while the now delayed second phase will increase it to 85Mtpa.
Apart from the weather which affected the offshore works, DBCT management said it encountered a problem with under-seabed geotechnical conditions and a solution is currently being implemented.
DBCT Management chief executive Eric Kolatchew noted current coal demand was well below the available terminal capacity and said the new June target for the upgrade is ahead of other parts of the coal supply chain.
Ports Corporation of Queensland figures from Dalrymple Bay port, which serves 10 northern Bowen Basin coal mines, revealed a 15% drop to 3.33Mt from 3.93Mt in November. However, this export tonnage was up nearly 4% from December 2007.
Earlier in the week, Macquarie analysts said monsoonal rain in the state disrupted expansion works at the Abbot Point coal terminal but flooding in coal regions was minor, but if rain moved further south production could be interrupted in the Bowen Basin.
