Undefined Explosive Device (UED) event in La Guajira, Uribia area, Colombia on Fri 15th December 2023

The railway infrastructure used by Glencore’s (LON: GLEN) Cerrejón coal mine in Colombia was attacked with explosives by unknown suspects late on Friday, the company said in a media statement.

The incident took place in the Uribia municipality, in the northern department of La Guajira, and although no one was injured, it caused damages to the railway line and one of the cars. It also led to a total stoppage of coal transport from the mine to the Bolívar Port, which are about 150 kilometres apart.

“Cerrejón rejects these types of violent acts that put at risk the safety of our employees, neighbouring communities and the normal functioning of our operation,” the miner’s communiqué states. “We are working to enable transportation to the Bolívar Port as soon as possible.”

The company also said the management team is working together with authorities to further investigate the incident and take the necessary steps to identify those responsible.

Between five and six Cerrejón trains carry 80,000 tonnes of coal per day to the Bolívar Port, in addition to providing 80,000 litres of fresh water to nearby communities. 

In operation since the mid-1970s, the mine produced 19.7 million tonnes of thermal coal in 2022, which translated into close to $1 million in taxes and royalties for Colombia.