Brazil-based mining giant Vale has announced that it has lifted force majeure at the Carborough Downs metallurgical coal operation in the Central Bowen Basin, Queensland, Australia. Force majeure was declared at the end of May, following the detection of abnormal levels of carbon monoxide in the mine. The company underlined that no employees were adversely affected and no environmental damage occurred.
Carborough Downs has resumed production at a safe rate. Output will gradually normalize as the remaining operational and geological issues are resolved. In the second quarter of 2012, Carborough Downs produced 82,000 mt of metallurgical coal.