Rio Tinto declares force majeure on some iron ore contracts after fire at Cape Lambert port

Rio Tinto has declared force majeure on some iron ore contracts after a fire ripped through its Cape Lambert port.

This Rio Tinto mining group handout taken on September 8, 2009 shows the three billionth tonne of iron ore being loaded on to the Pacific Ruby at Rio Tinto's recently expanded Cape Lambert port in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Rio Tinto reached the historic milestone of exporting three billion tonnes of iron ore from Australia, highlighting the exponential growth of the Pilbara since its first shipment of the essential steel-making ingredient in 1966. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AFP PHOTO / RIO TINTO / HO

Rio Tinto has declared force majeure on some iron-ore contracts after a fire at its Australian port facilities last week.

The mining company (RIO), one of the world’s top exporters of steel ingredient iron ore, said a fire broke out at the Cape Lambert port in Western Australia state on January 10, causing damage to a section of the plant that separates its Robe Valley lump and fine products.

“Rio Tinto is assessing the full impact of the damage and will do all it can to try and minimise disruption to our customers,” the company said in an emailed statement. It said shipments of other iron-ore products aren’t affected.

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