Communities in Colombia blocking mining operations that supply NB Power with coal

Editor’s note: NB Power sources its coal from the Cerrejón coal mine.

September 1 – Wayuú and Afro-descendant communities affected by the Cerrejón Limited open-pit coal mine in Colombia are blocking the southern part of the mining operation in La Guajira due to the mining company not complying with agreements made with affected communities.

Barrancón, Manantialito, Wayuu Indigenous Reserve of San Francisco, Papayal, Roche, Patilla, Chancleta, Wayuu Indigenous Reserve of Tamaquito II, Las Casitas, the path Sierra Azul and Sabana al Medio are protesting the company’s non-compliance with the agreements established with the resettled communities on issues such as access to water. The municipality of Barrancas and the department of La Guajira are also saying that the coal mining is violating ethnic rights. Blockades have been set up on the national road that leads to the south of La Guajira as well as on the Tajo Annex.

The communities are demanding that representatives from Glencore, the Swiss-based multinational mining company that owns the mine, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of the Environment reach an agreement.

London Mining Network and the Colombia Solidarity Campaign support the demands made by the communities. For years, we have witnessed the negative effect of the Cerrejón coal mine on the life and territory of the communities. We respectfully ask the Colombian authorities and Glencore to listen and to provide a solution to the communities’ demands. These solutions must be made in collaboration with the communities.

Similarly, we are concerned about the safety of the protesting communities, which as defenders of territory and life may be threatened in Colombia. Therefore, we ask the Colombian authorities to ensure the integrity of the protesters and Glencore to establish a path of dialogue to resolve the communities’ claims.

London Mining Network is an alliance of human rights, development, environmental and solidarity groups.