Tropical Cyclone Zelia has officially intensified to a Category 5 system, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting it will cross the coast between Port Hedland and Karratha today.
Rio Tinto has four independent shipping terminals at Cape Lambert and Dampier, managed as a single port system.
The company said the sites have been shuttered in preparation for the cyclone, as well as other Rio operations in the area.
“Rio Tinto is prioritising the safety of its people as Tropical Cyclone Zelia heads toward the Pilbara region of Western Australia,” the company said.
“Cape Lambert and Dampier Ports have been cleared and there are no longer any ships or trains operating at our ports.
“Dampier Salt operations at Port Hedland and Dampier are also closed. It is too early to say how long port and rail operations will be closed and what the impact will be.”
The cyclone started as a Category Three storm offshore but quickly intensified as it came closer to the Pilbara coast, shuttering Port Hedland on Wednesday.
Rainfall in the Pilbara is expected to be in excess of 500mm, with communities warned by emergency services to prepare to evacuate.
Rio has said its first-quarter shipments will be affected by the shutdown, compounded by previous shipments setbacks brought on by last month’s Tropical Cyclone Sean.
In late January, Sean caused damage to railcar dumper at the Rio Tinto-owned East Intercourse Island (EII) port facility in WA.
The dumper, which shipped 45 million tonnes of Rio iron ore last year, requires rectification works that are still ongoing.
Subsequent closures from Tropical Cyclone Taliah and Tropical Cyclone Vince have also impacted the company’s shipments.
Despite the impacts to shipping operations, Rio said the company’s 2025 shipping guidance will remain unchanged.
“The company is working to mitigate impacts and will provide operational updates as appropriate,” Rio said.
