Vale has announced that it has lifted force majeure at the Carborough Downs metallurgical coal operation in the central Bowen basin in Queensland, Australia. Force majeure was declared at the end of May 2012, following the detection of abnormal levels of carbon monoxide in the mine. No employees were adversely affected and no environmental damage occurred.

Carborough Downs has resumed production at a safe rate. Output will gradually normalise as the remaining operational and geological issues are resolved. In the second quarter of 2012, Carborough Downs produced 82,000 metric t of metallurgical coal.

Adapted from press release by Lauren Bryant.