Australia cyclone shuts iron ore port, oil facilities

A tropical cyclone forced Australia’s major iron ore port and several oil facilities to suspend operations on Wednesday, as forecasters predicted the tempest would intensify as it swept along the country’s northwest coast.
Cyclones are a normal feature of an Australian summer but the national weather bureau has warned of above-average cyclone activity this season, on top of devastating floods that recently hit the coal and grain industries in the northeast.
Port Hedland, the country’s biggest iron ore export terminal, suspended loading ships on Wednesday with the approach of Cyclone Bianca, which is forecast to intensify on Thursday and generate winds of up to around 160 km per hour.
The port’s harbour master, John Finch, told Reuters he was closely monitoring the path of the cyclone and expected to be able to reopen to shipping within 12 to 24 hours.

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