OIL platforms have been shut down and mining exports put on hold due to the impact of Cyclone Clare in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. BHP Billiton, Santos and Chevron all closed down off-shore oil rigs prior to the category three cyclone crossing the coast of Dampier around midnight on Monday. Winds from the tropical cyclone peaked at around 195kph on Monday night, bringing strong storm surges, with the port at Port Hedland closed at 1.30pm. By late Tuesday morning, Cyclone Clare had weakened to a category 2 cyclone with winds of around 140kph as it tracked toward the mining town of Pannawonica, and was expected to continue to dissipate. BHP Billiton ceased production at its Griffin oil field and Santos also suspended oil field operations. Chevron closed down its Barrow Island oil operations in anticipation of the cyclone’s impact. The Bureau of Meteorology reported localised heavy flooding in the aftermath of Clare, which was likely to impact the time for inland mining projects to resume full operations.
