Colombia has urged Glencore to engage in discussions with local authorities and community representatives regarding the closure of the Cerrejon coal mine in La Guajira, Colombia.
Glencore runs the Cerrejon mine under a concession agreement, with the operating permit set to expire in 2034, reported Reuters.
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It comprises an extensive mining area, a 150km railway and a port on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.
Minister of Mines and Energy Edwin Palma said: “The president tasked us with inviting Glencore to discuss how the mine will be closed. We don’t have to wait until the remaining years of the concession have passed.
“We need to start discussing now what the social and economic strategy will be for La Guajira in relation to the energy transition.”
Glencore and the Cerrejon mine are yet to comment on the latest request.
Colombia’s President, Gustavo Petro, previously indicated willingness to amend Glencore’s concession contract unilaterally if exports to Israel continued. The company complied with Petro’s requests.
In 2025, the Cerrejon mine produced 16.8 million tonnes (mt) of coal, a decrease from 19.2mt in 2024.
Petro has prohibited new exploration contracts for hydrocarbons and minerals, including coal, as part of a transition to renewable energy.
Palma added: “I want to invite Glencore to engage in dialogue with the tripartite committee, which is already established as the mechanism for discussing the energy transition. This involves investments in energy but also in workforce retraining, training and new ventures focused on clean energy.”
Cerrejon is one of the world’s largest open-pit coal export mining operations.
With four decades of expertise, it oversees coal extraction, railway transport and export, providing energy products globally from La Guajira.
