News Corp's The Australian (archived copy) reports that:
Cyclone Debbie is expected to disrupt up to $US3.2 billion ([A]$4.2 [billion]) worth of Queensland coking coal exports and rob customers in Asia of access to premium coal for five weeks as landslides shut down the [Goonyella] railway system that moves half the state's coal exports.
Coke made from the coal is used for making steel in India, South Korea and Japan.
A report at ABC News elaborates:
Queensland's coking coal exports look set for weeks of major disruptions after Aurizon confirmed that some of its key rail lines had been seriously damaged by flooding associated with Cyclone Debbie.
Early reports from resources companies indicated that their mines had escaped serious damage, unlike the aftermath of Cyclone Yasi where many pits were flooded and out of production for months.
However, while the Bowen Basin's mines may be quick to return to production, many will not be able to get their coal to port and onto ships for more than a month due to flood damage to rail lines.
The worst damage appears to be to the key Goonyella rail line that connects a large number of the Bowen Basin's mines to the massive Dalrymple Bay and Hay Point coal terminals.
This line closed on March 28 and Aurizon has reported "significant landslips", with initial engineering assessments indicating that it will take approximately five weeks to repair the damage.
Additional coverage:
Australian Financial Review
Hellenic Shipping News
Further information:
about Goonyella railway
about Cyclone Debbie
about types of coal
previous story:
A Cyclone Just Left a Shark on the Streets of Australia
(Score: 2) by driverless on Wednesday April 05 2017, @01:33AM
We probably cut the high-grade coke to enhance next quarter's sales number.
Ugh, tell me about it. Only last week some fucking drug addict cut my coke with Saniflush.