Cliffs Oak Grove Mine Impacted by Severe Weather in Alabama
04/29/2011 - Cliffs Natural Resources reports that above-ground operations at its Oak Grove Mine in Alabama were struck this week by severe weather, including a tornado storm.
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. reports that above-ground operations at its Oak Grove Mine in Alabama were struck by severe weather, including a tornado storm, on April 27, 2011.
According to the company, all mine operations employees are accounted for and safe with no known injuries at this point in time. Cliffs indicated that it does appear that the severe weather did significant damage to the mine's preparation plant and overland conveyor system and this, along with overall infrastructure damage in Alabama, will impact future customer deliveries.
Cliffs cautioned that it is extremely early in the damage assessment process being conducted by its operations team, and therefore, difficult to accurately forecast potential business impact. The company said the assessment is ongoing and further information will be communicated as appropriate and available.
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., an international mining and natural resources company, is a major global iron ore producer and a significant producer of high- and low-volatile metallurgical coal. Cliffs' strategy is to continually achieve greater scale and diversification in the mining industry through a focus on serving the world's largest and fastest growing steel markets.
The company is organized through a global commercial group responsible for sales and delivery of Cliffs' products and a global operations group responsible for the production of the minerals the company markets. Cliffs operates iron ore and coal mines in North America and two iron ore mining complexes in Western Australia. The company also has a 45% economic interest in a coking and thermal coal mine in Queensland, Australia. In addition, Cliffs has a major chromite project, in the pre-feasibility stage of development, located in Ont., Canada.