Rio Tinto’s 2020 iron ore shipments guidance from its Pilbara operations has decreased by 2-3pc to a range of 324-334mn mt compared to the previous guidance of 330-343mn mt due to Tropical Cyclone Damien.
The company’s iron ore operations in Pilbara, Western Australia, are resuming gradually after the February 8 cyclone, which caused infrastructure damage across the miner’s Pilbara network. The storm impacted Rio Tinto’s mines, access roads, electrical and communications infrastructure and accommodations in the region.
The miner owns an integrated portfolio of iron ore assets in Pilbara, including 16 mines, four independent port terminals, a rail network spanning 1,700 km, and four power plants.
Cyclone Damien was categorized as a level three storm which delivered gusting winds up to 205kmph with heavy rains and a storm surge. After Cyclone Christine in 2013, Damien was the first severe storm to cross Karratha and Port Hedland, where Pilbara is located.