After embargo against Russia: Colombia’s coal as an alternative

After the EU stopped importing coal from Russia, Colombia, among others, could provide a replacement – with one of the world’s largest coal mines. This comes at a high price for the local population.

Luz Ángela Uriana stands in front of what was once her house. Only the walls of the bathroom are still standing, with a few bricks next to them. “The place makes me nostalgic. My son Moisés was born here,” she says. Luz has since moved away because the “Cerrejón” mine is getting closer and closer to her village Provincial, a settlement of the indigenous Wayuú. According to Luz, the vibrations from the coal mining caused cracks in the walls until the house collapsed. “Cerrejon told me it was badly built.”

Indigenous people call mine “monster”

El Cerrejon in the La Guajira region of northwestern Colombia is one of the world’s largest hard coal mines. The Wayuú call her a “monster”. Around 30 million tons of coal go from here to all over the world every year, including Germany. The companies STEAG and EnBW are customers. Uniper and RWE also buy Colombian coal, but hang up ARD-Request their suppliers not open. But the Cerrejón mine, which belongs to the Swiss company Glencore, is likely because of its size alone.

Now the Wayuú fear that the mine will continue to grow. Because of the coal embargo against Russia, Europe is looking for alternatives to Russian coal. In 2021, Germany had only imported around six percent of the hard coal from Colombia. But this proportion could now increase. A talk between Colombia’s President Iván Duque and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has already taken place.

job engine of the region

The mine splits the region. Many villages only exist because of them. In the shops you can buy helmets and rubber boots, everything you need for working in the mine. La Guajira is one of Colombia’s poorest regions, and Cerrejón is a major employer – supporters emphasize this. Others like Luz Uriana fight against the encroachment on nature. She is sitting on the terrace of her new apartment with her eight-year-old son Moisés on her lap. At eight months he developed a fever and shortness of breath. “Those were the first symptoms.”

Luz is convinced: Moisés got sick from the dust raised by Cerrejón. A few years ago she sued the mine and won a stage. Cerrejón was obligated to exercise more precaution and prudence. But far too little happened after that. According to Luz, representatives of the mine are now asking in the village what time they can make the explosions. “It’s like someone asking you: How are we supposed to kill you?”

Rules “flexible and lax”

A battle for the truth has broken out and is being brought to court – a battle over limit values, over dust formation, over environmental damage. A point of contention is the “Bruno Arroyo” river, which Cerrejón has diverted about 3.6 kilometers for coal mining. The company laid out a new river bed, which they praised as being rich in species and exemplary. Indigenous activists like Jazmin Romero Epiayu complain that Cerrejón is cutting off the water supply for the indigenous people and thus indirectly forcing them to resettle.

“Cerrejón is a threat to the indigenous people, who make up about 44 percent of the population in La Guajira,” says Romero. And President Duque’s government is making itself an accomplice to international corporations like Glencore. The CAJAR lawyers’ collective, which supports the Wayuú, also emphasizes that the state does not protect the communities enough: “The Colombian state is weak,” says lawyer Rosa María Mateus, “the legal regulations are very flexible and lax when it comes to air pollution goes.”

support from Germany

To the questions of ARD sends Cerrejón a detailed, nine-page response. The company rejects all allegations and emphasizes that it is responsible for the environment and local residents. One adheres to laws and limit values ​​and does not discharge any polluted water into the rivers. The mine also sprinkles water on the dumps to reduce dust. This water, Cerrejón says, is unfit for human consumption and agriculture.

The German customers, EnBW and STEAG, are also backing Cerrejón. STEAG reports on visits and talks with the Wayuú. STEAG has repeatedly confronted Cerrejón with facts and allegations, such as Cerrejón’s violation of water emission values. In the meantime, writes a STEAG spokesman, the prescribed emission values ​​are being complied with again, which was supported by pressure from European importers.

Hoping for the EU supply chain law

Human rights activists like Armin Paasch from Misereor, on the other hand, are demanding that German companies do more: “They have to comprehensively investigate risks to human rights and the environment, they have to make clear demands on the mining companies in Colombia, and they also have to get involved in making reparations for take part in the damage that they have helped to cause.”

Far too little is happening at the moment. In this respect, an EU supply chain law is important, which obliges companies to make amends and thus closes a gap, says Paasch. Luz Ángela Uriana also has a demand for German companies: They should come here, get a comprehensive picture for themselves and not trust what the Cerrejón mine is telling them.