Coal and Thirst

Coal has been extracted in La Guajira since the 1970s, and since 1985 El Cerrejón has operated there—the largest open-pit coal mine in Latin America. Although Colombia is the world’s fourth largest coal exporter and most of this coal goes to Europe, the extractivist model concentrates profits in Glencore, the Swiss multinational that operates the mine.

The tax revenues and royalties allocated to the department of La Guajira are insufficient, poorly managed, and fail to reach the most affected communities, most of whom are Wayuu. While these communities live without basic services, the mine—located in the Ranchería River basin—uses over 16 million liters of water per day, while the Wayuu survive on just 1 to 5 liters per person.

The few resources contributed by the company to the region are directed toward short-term projects with no lasting impact on health, education, or access to clean water—and have been the subject of multiple corruption allegations. Glencore’s mining license expires in 2034, and although the company speaks of a “responsible closure,” fears are growing that the damage will go unrepaired and justice for affected communities will never come.