Glencore’s (LON: GLEN) Cerrejón coal mine in Colombia halted railway operations after explosives struck its network, marking the sixth attack on its infrastructure this year.
A train was affected by the attack, which happened on the evening of Sept. 22 near Uribia in the northern department of La Guajira. The company said no injuries were reported, adding that mine activities continue as normal.
“Since early this morning on September 23rd, the National Army has deployed troops to secure the area and oversee the inspection of the infrastructure,” the company said in a statement to Reuters. “This is the sixth attack we have recorded this year against our infrastructure.”
Its railway network runs for 150 kilometers, connecting the site to Puerto Bolívar, where production is exported to the international markets.
The company said that once the area is safe to enter, it will conduct a damage assessment.
Repeated disruptions
The explosives attack follows more than 80 blockades affecting Cerrejón this year, which have been related to protests against government authorities over the lack of basic services in nearby communities rather than disputes with the company itself.
Earlier disruptions have caused the mine to completely shutdown operations which highlights the operation’s dependence on its transport corridor.
Depending on how long it takes to repair the damage, the attack could have a broader operational impact. Prolonged repairs could disrupt the movement of supplies and coal, potentially affecting production and exports.
Cerrejón is one of the world’s largest open-pit coal mines and produced 16.8 million tonnes of coal in 2025.
Shares in Glencore were up 5.2% to £550.8 ($730.4) apiece on Wednesday afternoon in London, valuing the company at £64.6 billion ($85.7 billion).
(With files from Reuters)
