Storms cause BHP to close coal mines

[miningmx.com] — BHP Billiton on Thursday declared force majeure on some coal operations in Queensland’s Bowen Basin.

Terrestrial rains across Queensland have forced several coal miners to shut down and was threatening to disrupt coal supply from the region, prompting the coal price to soar to a two-year high.

Ruban Yogarajah, a London-based spokesperson for BHP Billiton, said any significant impacts as a result of weather conditions would be included in group’s next quarterly production report.