Colombia's coal output down by 2% YOY in 2019

Coal production in Colombia, the fifth-largest coal exporter in the world, fell 2% to 82.Asian Metal Copyright2 million tonnes.Asian Metal Copyright2 million tonnes in 2019 after output at one of the principle mines declined and operations were interrupted by droughts, the government said Wednesday.

In 2018, the South American country recorded coal production of more than 84.2 million tonnes.

A judicial ruling prevented the extension of mining operations at Cerrejon, a coal mine in the La Guajira province which is jointly owned by BHP Group, Anglo American and Glencore.

"Both the effects of climate and restrictions due to judicial rulings had impacts," said Silvana Habib, president of the National Mining Agency.

Open-pit coal mines are required to reduce production in high temperatures to reduce pollution caused by dust.

As well as the Cerrejon mine, the Colombian coal industry is dominated by Drummond and Prodeco, which is a unit of Glencore.

In its 2019 results, Glencore recorded impairments of $514 million and $435 million related to Prodeco and Cerrejon respectively. Anglo American recorded an impairment on Cerrejon operations of $334 million.

.Asian Metal Copyright As well as the Cerrejon mine, the Colombian coal industry is dominated by Drummond and Prodeco, which is a unit of Glencore.Asian Metal Copyright