Vale Declares Force Majeure in Mozambique


Heavy rains prevented coal trains from reaching the Port of Beira (above).
Vale declared force majeure on Mozam-bique coal export shipments in Tete province after heavy rains hampered trans-port operations, according to a securities filing. In a press release, Brazilian compa-ny officials further cited “operational diffi-culties” since early February preventing coal from its Moatize mine reaching Beira Port via the Sena rail line. In all, the com-pany has reported that Zambezi River flooding thwarted the delivery of 250,000 metric tons of coking coal.

Mozambican port and rail company CFM “is taking all necessary measures to re-establish rail traffic, and the situation should be normalized by the end of the month,” added the company. Vale hopes to be independent of the Sena line through a new railway across southern Malawi con-necting with Mozambique’s existing north-ern line; this will enable access to the Port of Nacala.

As featured in Womp 2013 Vol 03 - www.womp-int.com