Rio Tinto (LON:RIO, ASX:RIO, NYSE:RIO) said its aluminium unit Rio Tinto Alcan announced the termination of the force majeure event which had affected some of its customers being supplied with aluminium from Boyne Smelters Ltd near Gladstone in Queensland and that transport operations have returned to normal.
The flood waters are receding, road and rail access is available and the Port of Brisbane is open, allowing the transport of products to domestic and international customers.
The Australian state of Queensland, including capital Brisbane, were primarily affected by a series of floods that hit north-eastern Australia in December 2010. Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes, and the mining and other industries came to a standstill.