Brazilian mining giant, Vale, has declared force majeure on a number of its coal sales contracts from Mozambique. High rainfall since early February 2013 and continuing over the last few days in Tete province has created serious challenges to the Sena railway, impacting the transportation coal to the Port of Beira. So far, the company estimates a loss of approximately 250,000 t in metallurgical coal shipments.
Caminhos de Ferro Moçambique (CFM), owner of Serra-Beira railway, is working to restore the railway traffic and the situation is expected to be normalised by the end of this month.
Adapted from press release by Jonathan Rowland.