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Colombian 2013 coal production falls 4% on-year to 85.5 million mt

Colombia's total coal production in 2013 fell 4.15% on the year to 85.5 million mt, according to data supplied by the country's national mining agency (ANM).

Coal output was hit by a series of disruptions, including strikes at the country's two largest thermal coal miners Cerrejon and Drummond in early and late 2013 respectively.

In addition, Drummond exports were banned between February and March due to a coal spillage incident in January and coal railings through the Fenoco rail line, which services 85% of thermal coal exports, were restricted during the same period to reduce noise pollution.

The ANM said that 94.3% of coal production, or approximately 80.6 million mt, was allocated to the export market, with balance allocated for domestic consumption for the power industry and to cement and steel plants.

The agency also said that the total 2013 coal production figure was 84.2% of the output target expected for the year.

"Although production in 2013 was below 2012, it is worth noting that the year ended with a rebound in mining," Colombia's mining and energy minister Amylkar Acosta said in a message posted Monday on Twitter.

The ANM said Colombian coal production in the fourth quarter of 2013 was 18% up on-year to 3.8 million mt.

Source: Platts