Strike action at Xstrata's Collinsville mine in the north of Queensland’s Bowen Basin may delay coal shipments from the Abbot Point Coal Terminal.

A port operator said that there are enough cargos at the port to service the Xstrata mine’s customers for two more days, but if the strike continues longer than that exports will be effected. The rail system connecting mines to the 25 million tonne per annum terminal was blockaded for two days at the beginning of the week in an unrelated protest by local residents angered by the prospect of increased rail traffic.

The terminal said the blockade did not impact on exports as the terminal had enough cargos, so there were no losses. It said that but with stocks somewhat depleted as a result, there is more potential for strike action by miners to impact sooner rather than later. The miners have downed tools calling for a pay rise from AUD 105,000 per annum to USD 140,000 per annum in line with wages paid to workers at other mines in the region. There is no indication how long the strike is expected to last.

(Sourced from Energy Publishing)