© Reuters. Wayuu indigenous people from neighboring communities sit on a railroad track used by coal producer Ceregon before the blockade was lifted, in Puerto Bolivar, Colombia, April 7, 2023. REUTERS/Antonio Casio
2/5
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Protesters in the northern Colombian province of La Guajira have lifted a four-day blockade on a railway line and the entrance to an export terminal used by coal miner Ciregon, the company said on Friday.
The company said earlier that the blockade, which affected operations, was led by residents from three communities in Media Luna.
“It has been lifted,” a Ciregon spokesman told Reuters, adding that normal operations would now resume.
Blockades of roads, railways and other Cerrejon installations are common and regularly result in losses for the company.
The Wayuu indigenous communities have had a long-running dispute with Ceregon, owned by Anglo-Swiss commodities giant Glencore (OTC:), over water use, pollution, dust, noise and health issues.
Cerrejon is subject to court order to comply with environmental and health requirements, including by reaching agreements with Wayuu communities.
The company said it has signed 302 agreements, including 11 with local communities in Media Luna.
In 2020, a UN special rapporteur said the mine should cease some operations for health and environmental reasons, a call Ceregon rejected.
Comments are closed.