Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Coal Country Notes

Colombia's vast coal resources are located in the north and west of the country. Data on 'measured reserves', published in 2004 by the Instituto Colombiano de Geología y Minería, Ministerio de Minas y Energía, indicate a total of 7 064 million tonnes, of which the Cerrejón Norte, Central and Sur fields  in the department of La Guajira accounted for 56% and fields in the department of Cesar for 29%. For the present Survey, proved recoverable reserves have been based on this level, adjusted for cumulative coal production in 2004 and 2005. 'Indicated reserves' quoted in the same publication are 4 572 million tonnes, whilst 'inferred' tonnages are 4 237 million and 'hypothetical' resources 1 120 million.

Virtually all Colombia's coal resources fall into the bituminous category: the reserves in the Alto San Jorge field in Córdoba, with an average calorific value in the sub-bituminous/lignite bracket, are shown under sub-bituminous in
Table 1-1.

Development of Colombian coal for export has centred on the Cerrejón deposits which are located in the Guajira Peninsula in the far north, about 100 km inland from the Caribbean coast. The coal is found in the northern portion of a basin formed by the Cesar and Rancheria rivers; the deposit has been divided by the Government into the North, Central and South Zones. In October 1975 the Government opened international bidding for the development of El Cerrejón-North Zone reserves and in December 1976 Carbocol (then 100% owned by the Colombian State) and Intercor (an Exxon affiliate) entered into an Association Contract for the development and mining of the North Zone. The contract has three phases and covers a 33-year period with the production phase scheduled to end early in 2009.

Carbocol was privatised in October 2000, the purchasers being a consortium of Anglo-American, Billiton and Glencore; in early 2002 the three partners acquired the whole of Intercor's interest.

Coal exports from Colombia totalled 55 million tonnes in 2005, equivalent to over 90% of its coal production. Cerrejón North remains one of the world's largest export mines.