Colombia’s No. 2 coal exporter Drummond saw output at its La Loma and El Descanso mines increase 9.5% to 23 million mt last year versus 2010. Output at Glencore’s Prodeco unit went up 44% to 14.4 million mt in 2011 versus 2010. Production in the Guajira state where El Cerrejon, the country’s largest exporter, has four of five licenses to mine increased 7% to 33.3 million mt in the same period.
All major thermal producers are currently expanding their mines and infrastructure. Colombia’s mining minister has said the country’s coal production is expected to reach 97 million mt this 2012.
