Cyclone Zelia zeros in on WA’s resources heartland

The strongest cyclone to hit WA in years is set to disrupt iron ore and LNG production.

The latest track map for Tropical Cyclone Zelia.

Rio Tinto is bracing for another big blow to its iron ore operations as one of the strongest cyclones in years threatens to leave a trial of destruction through WA’s mining and LNG heartland.

Major iron ore producers Rio Tinto, BHP, Fortescue and Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill have all taken precautions as Cyclone Zelia was upgraded category 5 status with warnings of wind gust of up to 285kph and heavy rain.

It shapes as the strongest cyclone to hit WA’s Pilbara since at least 2007 and is set to disrupt iron ore and LNG production.

Shell said there would be no offtake from its Prelude floating LNG operation north-east of Broome until at least Sunday on the back of the wild weather.

Cyclone Zelia is tracking to cross the coast between Port Hedland sand Dampier sometime on Friday with the Rio still carrying out repair work in the wake of Cyclone Sean, which flooded key parts of its operations in January and also hit BHP and Fortescue.

Rio said worker safety was its priority with the latest cyclone bearing down on its mines, rail and port operations.

Port Hedland, used by BHP, Fortescue, Roy Hill and Mineral Resources to export iron ore, has been shut since Wednesday.

Rio closed its Cape Lambert port to ships on Wednesday. Dampier port is now shutdown and Rio has halted rail operations.

“It is too early to say how long port and rail operations will be closed and what the impact will be,” a Rio spokesperson said.

Rio has already acknowledged first quarter shipments will be hit by the impact of Cyclone Sean, and subsequent closures from Cyclone Taliah and Cyclone Vince.

The run of cyclones has come with Rio in a vulnerable position in terms of its iron ore operations.

The Rio’s mines would normally be better prepared to cope with cyclone disruption but they also copped heavy rainfall in the December quarter. The wet weather forced company drew down on mine stockpiles towards the end of 2024 during what is typically its most productive quarter.

Rio said its 2025 shipment guidance remained unchanged and it would provide operational updates as appropriate.

Rio’s export terminal at East Intercourse Island remains out of action and under repair in the wake of Cyclone Sean, which dumped a record 274mm of rain on parts of the Pilbara in a 24-hour period and flooded key mining infrastructure.

BHP sent all non-essential workers to Perth with all flights in and out of Port Hedland now cancelled until further notice.

“For the safety of our people and our community, our Port Hedland operations have been paused, and our teams have been instructed to shelter at home or at camp until emergency authorities have advised otherwise,“ a BHP spokesperson said.

“Our well-tested cyclone response plans have been implemented, with sites made safe and all equipment tied down as we wait for the cyclone to pass.”

Fortescue suspended all non-essential travel to its Pilbara operations and was bracing for the impact of Cyclone Zelia.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NEWSWIRE

Originally published as Cyclone Zelia zeros in on WA’s resources heartland