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The demage of mining companies and the lack of human rights protection
Extractive activities have always generated negative impacts on the environment and local communities. Colombia is the leading coal producer in Latin America and the fifth largest exporter globally, highlighting how the presence of inadequately regulated foreign multinationals triggers conflicts between economic interests and enviromental sustainability.
The department of La Guajira, home to the mine, faces multiple challenges related to water access for the entire population. In a context where water distribution in Colombia is unequal and considering that La Guajira is one of the hottest and driest regions in the country, climate change has significantly affected the area, causing an increase in temperature and a decrease in precipitation over the past thirty years. With the diversion of the Ranchería River due to mining activities, the situation has only worsened. With only 37% of the population having access to drinking water and less than one liter of water per day, at least seven million people live under conditions of extreme water scarcity. The impacts of massive coal extraction and water and soil pollution have led to an increase in respiratory diseases and cancer among the population due to high levels of heavy metals found in soil and water, increasing mortality and malnutrition rates in surrounding communities.
Health challenges add to the picture, with the need to travel long distances to reach medical facilities in remote areas and limited access to basic medical services. Travel costs and logistical difficulties hinder the Wayuu people’s access to adequate medical care. Despite activists’ efforts and complaints from NGOs and international organizations, the implementation of corrective actions has been slowed down by government negligence and wilespread infrastructural corruption.
EL CERREJO’N
El Cerrejón spans 69,000 hectares, equivalent to about 100,000 football fields, and annually extracts around 20 million tons of coal to meet the growing global energy demand. The mining industry, which developed since the 1970s, has led to political changes under the presidencies of Uribe Vélez and Santos, favoring the mining-energy model at the expense of local communities, who were forced to move or leave their homes because the Colombian government prioritized economic interests with various multinational companies such as BHP (Broken Hill Proprietary Company), an Australian mining company and a major partner in the Cerrejón joint venture, Glencore, a Swiss-based commodity trading and mining company, and Anglo American, a major British-South African mining company. These companies have contributed to creating a profitable mining business, as evidenced by Glencore’s annual reports, which showed a revenue of $256 billion (€233 billion) in 2022 alone.
In 2011, during the annual financial meeting, BHP Billiton indicated a reserve life of 23 years for the mine, but in subsequent reports, BHP Billiton stated that Cerrejón’s contracts for Colombian coal extraction would gradually expire between 2028 and 2034, with no further production expected beyond 2033. In September 2020, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, David Boyd, called for the suspension of the mine “until it can be proven to be safe.”
In January 2021, it was announced that BHP, Glencore, and Anglo American would face an investigation into the environmental and human rights impacts of the mine. However, spokespeople for the multinational companies involved in Cerrejón often deflect responsibility for the water and health crisis in La Guajira. Instead, they claim continuous efforts by the companies to support local communities and uphold human rights. At the same time, they deny the involvement of the European financial sector, such as German banks and insurance companies. Until the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany remained the main importer of Colombian coal, with nearly 3 million tons imported through agreements with German energy companies like EnBW, Uniper, RWE, and STEAG.
Environmental and human rights activists in Australia, Switzerland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom have filed simultaneous complaints with the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) calling for the closure of the Cerrejón mine. In January 2022, the Swiss, Australian, and British National Contact Points (NCPs) issued initial assessments confirming that the complaints addressed a credible issue and should proceed. However, Glencore rejects these allegations, highlighting payments made to the region for social and environmental initiatives, as well as the distribution of drinking water.
The story of El Cerrejón reflects an evident imbalance between an international context that promotes sustainability and ethics, and the ongoing pursuit of profit. The involvement of European companies and the OECD investigations highlight the need for critical reflection on corporate responsibility and operational practices. These often fail to protect or respect the surrounding environment, neglecting local needs and, in particular, ignoring the rights of indigenous peoples considered humanity’s heritage. The situation underscores the challenge of reconciling economic interests with environmental protection and safeguarding the rights of local communities.
THE COAL BUSINESS: AN OPEN-AIR DUMP
La Guajira is the only region in South America where children still die from hunger and thirst. Since the government and international organizations have never found an effective solution to this long-standing problem, tourism businesses have taken over, creating new and unhealthy habits among local populations and demaging the surrounding enviroment.
Along the roads, there are mountains of waste of all kinds due to the constant passage of tourist vehicles. The government lacks a waste disposal system, resulting in everything that tourists donate, thinking they are doing good, actually creating a negative impact. This not only fuels the well-known practice of begging by children, who often drop out of school to engage in this activity but also contributes to the lack of eco-friendly education regarding the environment. Without a concrete initiative from the state, La Guajira risks quickly becoming an open-air dump.
