Colombia: Cerrejon mine slapped with notice of human rights violation

Colombia's biggest mine, Cerrejon which is jointly owned by BHP, Glencore, and Anglo American is called for human rights violation of the provincial Wayuu community during COVID-19.

The allegations

As mentioned in the company's website, a firm named Twenty Essex has filed a request before various United Nations organisations to investigate alleged human rights violations caused by the Cerrejon operation, in particular to the Provincial Wayuu community.

The company has alleged that Cerrejon coal mine is depriving the indigenous community of water and is worsening the illness amid the coronavirus emergency. The communities further claim that the mine's operations use 24 million litres of water a day and have contaminated drinking water at a time when locals are facing difficulties accessing clean, bottled water due to lockdown restrictions.

Miner's response

Cerrejon has denied the allegations and since stated that the information about its social and environmental performance was untruthful.

"We emphatically reject the presentation of inaccurate and biased information about Cerrejon's social and environmental performance, including completely false data on the company's water use and air quality," the company stated.

"We regret that this account continues to repeat information without real evidence, apparently supporting interests that do not represent all members of the Provincial indigenous community."

Cerrejon stated that it was prepared to offer information to the United Nations agencies about its social and environmental practices.

Challenge in achieving coal export target

Colombia is the fourth-largest exporter of thermal coal with the country's highest contribution sourced from the Cerrejon mines. The company has set a coal export target of 26.3 mn t in 2020.

However, coal exports of Cerrejon mine during Jan-May'20 plunged by 59% y-o-y basis and are recorded at 4.4 mn t; the principal reason for this being reduced power-sector demand in many countries due to COVID-19.

Alongside, Colombian government's 19-day national quarantine since March-end to mid-April also led to disruption for miners including Cerrejon impacting their business.

Subsequently given the exports achieved so far and not so positive outlook for coal demand in the upcoming months, this target attainment seems a bit far-fetched.

Also in case, the company faces any kind of temporary halt of operations due to recent human rights violation notice, achieving the export target will become further challneging.