A belt failure on the Curragh North conveyor, identified on May 22, has made things worse for the mine, causing it to forecast metallurgical coal sales volume of 5.1-5.4 million tonnes for the 2011 financial year.

On April 8, 2011, force majeure was lifted for all export contracts based on the expectation of no further effects of wet weather, and a prompt recovery of operations onsite to full production rates.

“Since this time, heavy rainfall during April and May, as well as groundwater inflow into mining areas, has resulted in overburden spoil becoming super-saturated, causing a number of significant low wall failures in recent weeks,” the company said.

“Mining areas affected by these low wall failures have seen access to exposed coal restricted, resulting in reduced coal mining rates and slower recovery of operations onsite. A belt failure on the overland conveyor connecting Curragh and Curragh North will also adversely affect production, with the conveyor expected to be out of operation for approximately one week.”

Wesfarmers Resources managing director Stewart Butel said the significant ongoing impacts of the wet weather on recovery efforts resulted in the reduction to previous guidance provided for Curragh metallurgical coal sales.

“We are continuing to dewater the affected areas and now expect operations to return to full production from July 2011,” Butel said.