Coal in Colombia
Colombia has the largest
reserves of Coal in Latin America. It has 0.7% of the world reserves of coal
(7.000 million metric tons), representing 0.75% of the total world production
(49.3 million of tons per annum), while it consumes only 0.096% of the total
world production (5.2 million tons). In Colombia, even in moments of economic
crisis, the growth rate of the mineral energy sector has always been greater
than the economy as a whole.
The coal reserves that Colombia
has, assures more than 250 years of production at the current exploitation
level. This is enough to satisfy the local market and to be a significant
participant in the international market.
Colombia exports 92% of its
production to Europe (52%), North America (36%) and South America (4%),
delivering three kinds of carboniferous products to their markets: Anthracite,
Cokes and Semi-cokes, and Thermal Coals. Colombia is the fifth largest exporter
of thermal coal world wide.
The Colombian coal is internationally
acknowledged for its high quality. Its location is strategically important with
regards to the new markets of Latin America, and its production cost is one of
the lowest in the world. A million BTUs of engine gasoline has a cost of
approximately 15 times more than a million BTUs of mineral coal.
