El Descanso Coal Mine
| This article is part of the Global Coal Mine Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor. |
| Sub-articles: |
| Related-articles: |
El Descanso Coal Mine (Mina El Descanso) is an operating coal mine in Codazzi, Cesar, Colombia.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Mine Name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| El Descanso Coal Mine | Codazzi, Cesar, Colombia[1][2] | 9.7050912, -73.5231884 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the coal mine:
Project Details
Table 2: Project status
| Status | Status Detail | Opening Year | Closing Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating[3] | – | 2009[4] | – |
Table 3: Operation details
| Capacity (Mtpa) | Production (Mtpa) | Year of Production | Mine Type | Mining Method | Mine Size (km2) | Mine Depth (m) | Workforce Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | 21.62[5] | 2024[5] | Surface | Open Pit | 315.59[6] | 60* | 2496[7] |
Table 4: Coal resources and destination
| Total Reserves (Mt) | Year of Total Reserves Recorded | Total Resources (Mt) | Coalfield | Coal Type | Coal Grade | Primary Consumer/ Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1763 | – | – | Cesar Coal Basin | Bituminous | Thermal | Terminal (Export) |
Table 5: Ownership and parent company
| Owner | Parent Company | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|
| Drummond Ltd [100.0%][8] | Drummond Company Inc [100%] | United States |
Table 6: Historical production (unit: million tonnes per annum)
| ROM or Saleable | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROM[9] | – | – | 23.1[10] | 21.5[11] | 20.6[9] | 20.4[3] | 21.4[12] | 21.7[5] | – |
Note: The above sections were automatically generated and are based on data from the Global Coal Mine Tracker August 2026 release.
Ownership Tree
This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.
Background
El Descanso mine or Mina El Descanso is located in northern Colombia, near the El Paso municipality in Colombia's Cesar Department.[13] When mining began, the mine was considered the largest in the country and one of the largest in the world.[14][15] The Descanso mine operates alongside two other Drummond's existing mines, El Corozo mine and Pribbenow.
El Descanso mine or Mina El Descanso is located in northern Colombia, near the El Paso municipality in Colombia's Cesar Department.[13] When mining began, the mine was considered the largest in the country and one of the largest in the world.[14][15]
Mina El Descanso is operated by Drummond Ltd and owned 100% by Alabama-based Drummond Company Inc through its Colombian subsidiary Drummond International LLC.[16] The El Descanso mine was bought by Drummond from EcoCarbonin 1997.[17][18] It was the company's second mine when it began operation in 2009.[19] In August 2010 Drummond stated that it planned to expand the mine from its "current capacity of 3 million tonnes per year to 25 million tonnes per year over the next three years." The company also stated that this would require the expansion of the Puerto Drummond coal port which handles coal from both El Descanso mine and the company's Pribbenow mine. In a media release, the company stated that it had "committed to the government to build a direct ship loader" at Puerto Drummond.[20]
Drummond indicated interest in extending the El Descanso coal project by up to 30 years beyond its current concession period, which is set to expire in 2032, while the broader La Loma mining complex license runs until 2039.[21]
Coal Production
Coal production at the El Descanso mine remained consistently high over the period. The mine produced approximately 20.6 million tonnes of coal in 2021,[22] followed by 20.4 million tonnes in 2022.[23]
Production increased slightly to 21.4 million tonnes in 2023,[24] and further to 21.7 million tonnes in 2024.[25]
Coal Production & Exports by Drummond
Drummond reported that it had been Colombia's leading coal producer for six consecutive years as of 2021, with total production from its Colombian mines reaching 28.9 million tonnes and exports totaling 31.5 million tonnes that year.[16] The El Descanso mine accounted for nearly three quarters of Drummond's Colombian production (20.6 million tonnes) in 2021.[16]
Coal exports continued to grow thereafter, reaching a record 33.5 million tonnes in 2022, compared to 26.3 million tonnes in 2020, the lowest level recorded in the previous five years.[26] See data for other years in the table below.
In April 2025, Drummond reported plans to reduce its operations in Colombia’s Cesar Department due to market conditions, including lower demand, higher transport costs, and a portion of production remaining unsold.[27]
Production and Exports - Drummond Mines in Colombia
| Year | El Corozo (Mtpa) | Production - El Descanso (Mtpa) | Production - Pribbenow (Mtpa) | Total Production (Mtpa) | Total Exports (Mtpa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2.2[25] | 21.7[25] | 3.8[25] | 27.7 | 30.2[25] |
| 2023 | 2.2[28] | 21.4[24] | 6.0[24] | 29.5[24] | 27[24] |
| 2022 | 1.4[29] | 20.4[29] | 5.7[29] | 27.6[29] | 27.7[29] |
| 2021 | 0.7[16] | 20.6[16] | 7.6[16] | 28.9[16] | 31.5[16] |
| 2020 | 21.5[30] | 7.8[30] | 29.3[16] | 29.7[16] | |
| 2019 | 23.1[31] | 9.5[31] | 32.6[16] | 31.1[16] | |
| 2018 | 30.8[16] | 31.5[16] | |||
| 2017 | 32.5[16] | 32.4[16] |
Ownership
Mina El Descanso is a project of the Drummond Company Inc.[16] In 2011 Drummond sold a 20% stake in its Colombian mining operations to the Japanese company Itochu Corp.[32][33] In early 2021 Drummond Company Inc reassumed 100% ownership of the mines.[16]
Coal Spill
According to Wood Mackenzie, "In 2013, a barge ferrying coal at Puerto Drummond overturned and sunk. The incident resulted in the Colombian government suspending Drummond's export license for nearly a month and implementing a new regulation requiring direct ship loading as [of] 1 January 2014."[18]
Fatal Incidents
In April 2022, 38-year-old Orlando Silva Ramos was killed at El Descanso mine after a dump collapsed due to strong rain, burying him in the resulting landslide. Silva Ramos was believed to have illegally entered the facility with a group of other people, who reported what had happened to the authorities.[34]
On September 4, 2022, a Drummond bus carrying 14 mining company workers lost control and collided with a heavy-duty truck loaded with coal, 400 meters from the entrance to the El Descanso mine. Three workers were killed and several others injured.[35]
Environmental and Human Rights Impact
In 2017, the indigenous Yukpa community of the Cesar region filed a lawsuit against a mining company in the Serranía del Perijá, prompting Drummond to perform new investigations into whether the area of the Descanso mine coincided with Yukpa ancestral territory. Following this investigation, Drummond reiterated previous claims that "that there is NO evidence that Drummond's areas of operations coincide with ancestral Yukpa territory and, therefore, there is also no evidence of any affectation caused to said ethnic group." However, Yukpa spokespeople state that the coal deposit overlaps with and has disrupted sacred ancestral burial grounds, and that former mine workers have reported finding blanket-wrapped bodies of Yukpa community members at the site.[36]
In November 2021, activists from the Global Movement for Climate Justice, Extinction Rebellion, Oyawa, and other organizations staged simultaneous protests in Berlin, Paris, Madrid, Seville, Milan, and Naples in support of the Yukpa people, asking the Colombian national government to return Yukpa ancestral territory. The activists, mobilized by Yukpa International Delgate Juan Pablo Gutiérrez, cited not only the need to protect cultural heritage but also El Descanso's impact on the biodiversity of the region, which in turn affects the Yukpa community's ability to source food.[37]
Land Restitution Case
According to media reports, a Colombian court ruled in 2024 that land used by Drummond in Cesar had been unlawfully dispossessed during the armed conflict, ordering restitution to the state and compensation to affected families by public funds, while allowing the company to continue mining operations under its existing license until 2039.[38]
As of 2025–2026, no further updates on the land restitution ruling involving Drummond’s operations in Cesar had been reported.
Methane Plumes Detected Nearby
Global Energy Monitor researchers analyze satellite-detected methane plumes in order to determine whether they have been observed at or near the site of GEM energy assets. The satellite data provider creates imagery of individual methane plumes and estimates their emission rates at the time of observation. GEM has reviewed many of these plume detections against Google Earth imagery and GEM’s own energy infrastructure tracker data. The following table lists methane plumes which are associated with the energy asset or facility based on distance and manual review. (A full description of the analysis process is available in the Global Methane Emitters Tracker methodology wiki page.)
Table M1: Plume details
| Observation date | Satellite data provider | Location of plume origin | Methane emissions rate | Additional plume information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-02-19T19:05:39+00 | CarbonMapper, emi20230219t190539p12019-B | 9.731895, -73.5044[39] | –[39] | Cesar Department Methane Observation 2023-02-19, 2 |
| 2023-02-27T15:57:14+00 | CarbonMapper, emi20230227t155714p10003-B | 9.730077, -73.5071[39] | –[39] | Cesar Department Methane Observation 2023-02-27, 2 |
| 2023-03-10T18:27:22+00 | CarbonMapper, ang20230310t182722-B | 9.728918, -73.5046[39] | –[39] | Cesar Department Methane Observation 2023-03-10, 3 |
| 2023-03-10T18:27:22+00 | CarbonMapper, ang20230310t182722-C | 9.729704, -73.5074[39] | –[39] | Cesar Department Methane Observation 2023-03-10, 4 |
| 2023-03-10T18:36:57+00 | CarbonMapper, ang20230310t183657-A | 9.727853, -73.5065[39] | –[39] | Cesar Department Methane Observation 2023-03-10, 5 |
| 2023-03-10T18:47:32+00 | CarbonMapper, ang20230310t184732-A | 9.729031, -73.5071[39] | 202.4953 kg/hr[39] | Cesar Department Methane Observation 2023-03-10, 1 |
| 2023-03-10T20:58:19+00 | CarbonMapper, ang20230310t205819-A | 9.73138, -73.5071[39] | 1025.484 kg/hr[39] | Cesar Department Methane Observation 2023-03-10, 2 |
| 2023-03-19T19:38:42+00 | CarbonMapper, ang20230319t193842-A | 9.731555, -73.5063[39] | –[39] | Cesar Department Methane Observation 2023-03-19, 1 |
| 2023-03-19T19:46:18+00 | CarbonMapper, ang20230319t194618-B | 9.729362, -73.5068[39] | –[39] | Cesar Department Methane Observation 2023-03-19, 2 |
| 2023-03-19T20:22:38+00 | CarbonMapper, ang20230319t202238-C | 9.730986, -73.5051[39] | –[39] | Cesar Department Methane Observation 2023-03-19, 3 |
| 2023-06-29T15:40:42+00 | CarbonMapper, emi20230629t154042p10010-A | 9.727803, -73.508[39] | 1047.563 kg/hr[39] | Cesar Department Methane Observation 2023-06-29, 1 |
| 2025-01-28T15:40:10+00 | CarbonMapper, tan20250128t154010c00s4001-A | 9.727428, -73.5061[39] | 375.8004 kg/hr[39] | Cesar Department Methane Observation 2025-01-28, 1 |
| 2025-02-19T17:38:51+00 | CarbonMapper, emi20250219t173851p12017-A | 9.730833, -73.5052[39] | 564.5059 kg/hr[39] | Cesar Department Methane Observation 2025-02-19, 1 |
Articles and Resources
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of world coal mines, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Mine Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
References
- ↑ ;7474m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m10!1m2!2m1!1sel+descanso+mina+colombia!3m6!1s0x8e5fd8c9c9695639:0x6cbb8c9c5d10fe59!8m2!3d9.7515554!4d-73.4899465!15sChllbCBkZXNjYW5zbyBtaW5hIGNvbG9tYmlhkgEEbWluZeABAA!16s%2Fg%2F11c60jpzgf?entry=ttu
- ↑ https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mina+el+descanso/@9.7572099;-73.5066638.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://issuu.com/drummondltd/docs/drummond_en_cifras_2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://www.drummondltd.com/about-us/timeline/?lang=en https://www.drummondltd.com/about-us/history/?lang=en https://www.drummondltd.com/about-us/timeline/?lang=en.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 (PDF) https://drummondltd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Drummond-in-figures-2024.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://drummondltd.com/en/our-operations/mining-operations/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20260527005942/https://issuu.com/drummondltd/docs/drummond_ingles2017_digital_2019050?e=19253911%2F69675269. Archived from the original on 27 May 2026.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20260702184632/https://drummondltd.com/en/our-operations/mining-operations/. Archived from the original on 02 July 2026.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 9.0 9.1 "2021 Sustainability Report". issuu. Archived from the original on 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
- ↑ https://issuu.com/drummondltd/docs/2019-sustainability_report_-_en?fr=sMGU4ZjM5NDk1ODc.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://issuu.com/drummondltd/docs/is_drummond_2020_202111223_engdigital.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ (PDF) https://drummondltd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Drummond-in-figures-2023.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 13.0 13.1 Drummond Ltd. Colombia mines organizational website, accessed Nov. 8, 2019
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 El Tiempo Orginal: Drummond comenzó a explotar el carbón en El Descanso, Cesar Translation: Drummond began to exploit coal in El Descanso, Cesar El Tiempo July 31, 2008
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 El Espectador original: Drummond inicia exportaciones de carbón de mina El Descanso translation: Drummond starts coal exports from El Descanso mine elespectador.com June 11, 2009
- ↑ 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 16.11 16.12 16.13 16.14 16.15 16.16 16.17 "2021 Sustainability Report 2021 (pp 12, 19-21, 57, 70)". Drummond Ltd. Colombia. January 31, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedtl - ↑ 18.0 18.1 Wood Mackenzie El Descanso coal mine Asset Report, August 30 2018
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedabout - ↑ Drummond "Drummond Limited Plans new development", Media Release, August 21, 2010.
- ↑ "Colombia advances moves to end coal production". https://www.argusmedia.com/. September 13, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ↑ "Drummond in figures 2021" (PDF). https://drummondltd.com/. 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ↑ "Drummond en cifras 2022". https://issuu.com/. 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website=|title=at position 9 (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 "Drummond in figures 2023" (PDF). https://drummondltd.com/. 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 "Drummond in figures 2024" (PDF). https://drummondltd.com/. 2025. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ↑ "Drummond in figures 2024" (PDF). https://drummondltd.com/. 2025. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ↑ "La minera Drummond reduciría su operación en Cesar por condiciones de mercado". https://www.larepublica.co/. April 7, 2025. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:4 - ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 "Drummond en Cifras 2022". Drummond Ltd. January 1, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 30.0 30.1 "2020 Sustainability Report (p 31)". Drummond Ltd. Colombia. January 2021.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 "2019 Sustainability Report (p 42)". Drummond Ltd. Colombia. January 2020.
- ↑ "ITOCHU Corporation Invests in Drummond Company Colombian Mines | Press Releases | ITOCHU Corporation". ITOCHU Corporation. June 16, 2011.
- ↑ "Drummond to partially restart Colombian coal operations". S&P Global. April 9, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Bohórquez, Cristian (1 abril 2022). "Rescatan cadáver de hombre sepultado por un derrumbe en mina del Cesar". El Heraldo. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ↑ "Tres muertos y varios heridos por accidente de bus de Drummond en Cesar". Semana. 5 septiembre 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ↑ Ovalle Jácome, Ludys (23 noviembre 2021). "La lucha del pueblo yukpa por salvaguardar su territorio ancestral". Retrieved 3 October 2022.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ↑ Ovalle Jácome, Ludys (17 noviembre 2021). "Esta es la mina de carbón por la que protestan activistas internacionales". El Tiempo. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ↑ "Tribunal ordena restitución de tierras en zona minera de Drummond". https://www.youtube.com/. 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ↑ 39.00 39.01 39.02 39.03 39.04 39.05 39.06 39.07 39.08 39.09 39.10 39.11 39.12 39.13 39.14 39.15 39.16 39.17 39.18 39.19 39.20 39.21 39.22 39.23 39.24 39.25 url=https://data.carbonmapper.org/
