Colombia’s coal output will rise to 144 million tons in 2019, up from 72 million tons in 2009, newly appointed Mines and Energy Minister Carlos Rodado told reporters Friday.
Colombia’s second-largest coal producer, Alabama-based Drummond Co., plans to boost its output in its El Descanso coal mine to 25 million tons of coal a year from an expected 3 million tons this year. The company already produces about 20 million tons of coal in its other mine, Pribbenow.
The country’s largest coal producer, Carbones del Cerrejon, expects to produce around 31 million tons this year and has no plans to increase capacity in the immediate future. Carbones del Cerrejon jointly owned by London-listed Xstrata PLC, Anglo American PLC and BHP Billiton Ltd., each of which owns 33.3%. (Inti Landauro / Dow Jones)