Hunter coal exports unaffected by latest severe weather

<p>The Hunter coal chain is still feeling the effects of flooding which occurred almost two weeks ago, as the Hunter Valley Coal Chain Logistics Team (HVCCLT) predicts the storms will wipe out 2.5m tonnes of throughput from the port of Newcastle this year.</p> <p>The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) expects to re-open its rail lines between Whittingham and Branxton by 6 pm today (Thursday June 21), taking the Hunter coal chain to 80% of its normal capacity.</p> <p>The system was moving up to 270,000 tonnes of coal each day before the June 8 storms that flooded tracks, stockpiles and mines and closed the harbour for several days.</p> <p>The storm also grounded the 76,781 dwt <em>Pasha Bulker</em> .</p> <p>Salvagers are still looking to attempt to refloat the vessel at the end of June.</p> <p>The anchor handling tug <em>Pacific Responder</em> arrived in Newcastle this morning to assist with the salvage task.</p> <p>Another severe weather system closed the port from Tuesday, but the harbour was expected to re-open this morning.</p> <p>The port restrictions have not caused any major problems for coal throughput because the main focus at the moment is on inbound supplies by rail.</p> <p>The track limitations have meant that Port Waratah Coal Services is still operating with below-average stockpiles, about 749,000 tonnes this morning, short of the average 1m tonnes of waiting coal.</p> <p>Trains will operate at slower speeds until water has drained from several sections of track, keeping the system at 80% of capacity.</p> <p>It could take another week for the speed restrictions to be lifted.</p> <p>PWCS is still pumping water from its stockpiles. </p> <br />