Australian metals producer South32 is moving non-essential personnel offsite from its Groote Eylandt manganese operations (Gemco) as Cyclone Narelle approaches, a company spokesperson told Argus today.
Gemco, located in the Northern Territory, sits in a region expected to be in Cyclone Narelle's path. South32 is working with the Local Emergency Controller to monitor the incoming weather system, the spokesperson added.
Cyclone Narelle will pass Groote Eylandt — an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria — on Saturday afternoon, according to Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). The cyclone is forecast to be a category three weather system by that time, BoM meteorologist Angus Hines said in a weather update.
Groote Eylandt should expect a real uptick in the wind and rain conditions from around Saturday afternoon, Shenna Gamble, BoM's hazard preparedness and response manager for the Northern Territory, said at a press conference.
South32 has faced severe weather challenges on Groote Eylandt before. The company paused mining operations on the island for four months in March 2024 because of Cyclone Megan. It only resumed manganese exports from Gemco in May 2025.
South32 plans to produce 3.2mn t of manganese at Gemco in July 2025-June 2026, it said in a quarterly report on 22 January.
The company raised its March-delivery Australian 43pc lumpy manganese ore cif China price by $0.10/metric tonne unit (mtu) to $5.20/mtu in late January because it expected Chinese demand for the metal to increase after the lunar new year holidays in February.
Argus' manganese ore 44-46pc Mn cif China price was last assessed at $5.23/mtu on 12 March, up from $4.63/mtu on 31 December.
