It is reported that Oil, gas, coal and iron ore mines face trouble in the coming months not from price fluctuations or the global fiscal crisis, but to a potentially brutal cyclone season brought by a returning La Nina weather pattern.
Australia Bureau of Meteorology, in its tropical cyclone seasonal outlook on Monday said the country northern parts may encounter more than 12 cyclones in the coming months due to neutral to borderline La Niña conditions.
The BOM at the same time urged communities from Exmouth to Broome to start preparing its early disaster response action plans in anticipation of the weather disturbance which could bring about potential cyclones and more than average floods. This could cause damage in lives, property and infrastructure and possible isolation from adjacent communities and states.
The BOM said for the oil and gas field and coastal iron ore operations in the northwest and the miners have a 65% possibility of facing more than seven cyclones.
Last year heavy flooding trigged by cyclones crippled the coal mining industry in Queensland. This season, BOM forecast it will face more than the average of three to four cyclones. Australia cyclone season runs from November and April.
Treasurer Mr Wayne Swan said natural disasters caused by the weather disturbance including floods and cyclones, reduced Australia economic activity by 0.75 percentage points in 2010-11 removing AUD 1.75 billion of potential revenue across 2010-11 and 2011-12
The BOM said it is likely another, less powerful, La Nina would develop in 2011-12 that could trigger damaging cyclones and floods.
Mr Andrew Burton BOM WA Regional Manager for Severe Weather Services told the Sydney Morning Herald that "Climate models are trending toward another La Niña episode which would lead us to expect a slightly higher than average number of tropical cyclones however, no two La Niña events are the same."
Australia is one of the world's leading coal exporters accounting two-thirds of the global coking coal trade. Around 90% of those come from Queensland. Global miners Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Xstrata are among major companies involved in coal mining there.
(Sourced from au.ibtimes.com)
