Aquila Says Rain Halts Coal Mine, May Miss Deliveries

Aquila Resources Ltd. and Vale SA said they may miss deliveries from their joint venture Isaac Plains coal mine in Australia’s Queensland state after heavy rain forced a halt to operations.

The coal handling preparation plant was flooded after rain on Nov. 29 and Nov. 30, causing a loss of production, the Perth- based company said today in a statement to the Australian stock exchange. Both partners have declared force majeure, a legal term that allows them to miss contracted deliveries.

The mine produces thermal and metallurgical coal and had sales of 491,961 metric tons of coal in the three months to Sept. 30, according to a regulatory filing. Queensland has had rainfall above average in recent weeks, Aquila said.

“Steps to remedy these circumstances and to minimize their effect upon the performance of the mine are being taken and the company will provide an update once production resumes,” Aquila said in the statement.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rebecca Keenan in Melbourne at rkeenan5@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew Hobbs at ahobbs@bloomberg.net