New Zealand's coal export port Lyttelton Port of Christchurch (LPC) has become fully operational again on the morning of September 7 following an extensive assessment by structural engineers conducted as a result of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake which happened on September 4.
According the statement by the port authority, after the earthquake LPC was able to resume operation of core services on the same day of the earthquake. Meanwhile, the container terminal was able to resume full cargo operation at 15.00, September 5, and there have been limited effects on forecasted shipping movements.
The cost to repair the damage to the port inflicted by the earthquake centered approximately 40 kilometers from the port is likely to be tens of millions of dollars, the port authority said in a statement on September 7.
Local coal miner Pike River Coal said its second export shipment of about 20,000 mt of premium hard coking coal worth about $6 million departed Lyttelton Port for India yesterday, one day later than planned.