Rio Tinto cranks up Australia port after cyclone

SYDNEY Jan 27 （Reuters） - Global miner Rio Tinto is resuming normal operations at its Port of Dampier iron ore terminal in northwest Australia after a passing cyclone briefly forced it to restrict port operations, the company said on Thursday.

"Having suspended all coastal operations by yesterday afternoon, we are now checking our operations as part of normal post-event procedures," Rio Tinto said in a statement emailed to Reuters.

"Although heavy rain persists, we expect to be able to progressively return to most normal operations over the next 24 hours."

The Port of Dampier is one of two ports in Western Australia used by Rio Tinto to export around 200 millions tonnes of iron ore each year.