Colombia Coal Output at 24.5 Mln Tonnes in F1 Q 2014

Colombia, the world's fourth largest exporter of coal, produced 24.5 million tons of coal in the first quarter, reported Friday the Ministry of Mines and Energy did not provide a comparative figure immediately.

Between January and March, mineral extraction was affected by Drummond, the second largest producer of coal in Colombia, which remained paralyzed exports and activities in its two mines for 76 days, and went into operation its port direct loading on Caribbean Sea that meets the new environmental requirements.

The system required by the Government allows Drummond, which accounts for nearly a third of Colombia's coal production, loading ore vessels through pipelines with band systems to prevent contamination.

Colombia established a production target of 89.1 million tonnes by 2014, an increase of 4.2 percent.

The country's coal production in 2013 was down 4.14 percent year on year to 85.5 million tonnes, slightly above the target, by a series of strikes that affected the sector, as well as restrictions on the operation of a train and a charging port.

Colombia's coal industry is dominated by large producers Xstrata (XSRAF.PK) and Glencore (GLCNF)'s Prodeco through local Drummond and Cerrejon, owned by BHP Billiton (BHPLF), Anglo American PLC and Glencore Xstrata. 

(Reporting by Peter Murphy. Posted by Luis Jaime Acosta, edited by Manuel Farias)