Colombia urges Glencore to discuss Cerrejon coal mine closure with local authorities
Colombian Government Seeks Dialogue Over Cerrejon Mine Closure
By Nelson Bocanegra
Government's Request for Closure Talks
BOGOTA, May 8 (Reuters) - Colombia's government on Friday said it will ask miner Glencore to meet with authorities in the northern province of La Guajira as well as community representatives to discuss the closure of the Cerrejon coal mine, one of the world's largest open-pit coal mines, the Ministry of Mines and Energy said in a statement on Friday.
Background on Cerrejon Mine Operations
Glencore operates the Cerrejon mine under concession, and the license is due to expire in 2034. The Cerrejon mining operation includes a large mining site, a 150-kilometer-long railway line, and a port on Colombia's Caribbean coast.
Minister's Statement on Closure Timeline
"We don't have to wait for the remaining years of the concession to run out," Edwin Palma, Minister of Mines and Energy, said in a statement calling for closure talks.
Responses and Recent Developments
Glencore and the Cerrejon mine did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Controversy Over Coal Exports to Israel
In July of last year, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he was prepared to unilaterally amend Glencore’s concession contract if the company continued to export the mine's coal to Israel. The company said that it had complied with Petro's request.
Production Decline at Cerrejon
Cerrejon ended 2025 with a production of 16.8 million tons of coal, a 12.5% decline compared to the 19.2 million tons reported in 2024.
Focus of Closure Discussions
The closure discussions between Glencore, local authorities and community leaders would address "investments in energy, but also in workforce retraining, workforce development, and new ventures centered on clean energy,” Palma said in a statement.
Policy Shifts Toward Clean Energy
Petro, whose four-year term ends in August, banned the signing of new exploration contracts for hydrocarbons and minerals such as coal to drive a transition toward clean and renewable energy.
(Reporting by Nelson Bocanegra, Editing by Brendan O'Boyle and Sarah Morland)
