Feb 11 (Reuters) - Incitec Pivot Ltd IPL.AX :
* NOTED CLOSURE OF RAIL LINE BETWEEN TOWNSVILLE AND PHOSPHATE HILL
* IPL BEGAN A PROGRESSIVE SHUTDOWN OF PLANTS WITHIN ITS PHOSPHATE HILL FACILITY OVER WEEKEND
* IPL'S PHOSPHATE HILL FACILITY HAS NOT SUSTAINED ANY DAMAGE
* TOWNSVILLE FERTILISER DISTRIBUTION AND PORT FACILITIES SUFFERED ONLY VERY MINOR DAMAGE AND ARE OPERATIONAL
* CURRENTLY ESTIMATES IMPACT OF RAIL CLOSURE WILL GIVE RISE TO LOST EARNINGS BEFORE INTEREST AND TAX OF ABOUT A$10M PER WEEK FROM FEB 9
* CONTINUING TO RUN EACH PLANT AT PHOSPHATE HILL FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE GIVEN STORAGE AND INPUT CONSTRAINTS