Cyclone Narelle Shuts Key Australian Resource Ports
Key Pilbara ports closed Thursday as Cyclone Narelle hit Western Australia. The category 3 storm is intensifying, though Port Hedland currently remains open.
Major shipping hubs for iron ore and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Australia have suspended operations as a powerful tropical cyclone impacts the Pilbara mining region. Pilbara Ports confirmed on Thursday that facilities at Ashburton, Cape Preston West, Dampier, and Varanus Island were closed due to severe weather conditions. Tropical Cyclone Narelle, currently a category 3 system, is producing strong gales and storm-force winds.
The Port of Ashburton, a critical site for Chevron Corporation and its Wheatstone LNG plant, has ceased activity. This port is also utilized by MINERAL RESOURCES LTD for iron ore shipments. Meanwhile, Rio Tinto Group has seen its operations at the Port of Dampier halted, affecting exports of iron ore and industrial salt. The Varanus Island port, operated by SANTOS LTD, is also among those shut down.
