Colombian coal firms to pay for high contamination

[Judi Lynn]

Colombian coal firms to pay for high contamination
Time: 14 May 2010 16:00 GMT


Bogota, 14 May (Argus) — Several major Colombian coal companies will be forced to fund the relocation of three towns because of high contamination levels from coal dust.

Coal producers Drummond, Coalcorp, Glencore and Vale must relocate the 1,000 residents of small towns Plan Bonito, El Hatillo and Boqueron elsewhere in the state of Cesar within two years, Colombian environment minister Carlos Costa told Argus on the sidelines of a conference in Cartanega.

“The situation is so critical that environmental measures are not enough air conditions, with contamination levels above normal,” Costa said.

Regulation to adopt the decision will be ready in a month, the minister said. Plan Bonito will be relocated first within 18 months. The government uses a specific formula to determine how much each company must pay for the relocation, but Costa did not disclose the exact amount.

The government has declared some areas of Cesar “zones of contamination”, Costa said. This means it can force coal companies to adopt joint measures and implement environmental measures such as water irrigation to mitigate contamination.

More:
http://www.argusmedia.com/pages/NewsBody.aspx?id=707707&menu=yes

[protocol rv]

1. The system seems to work well in Colombia

They seem to be making progress in many fronts, with a growing economy, a robust democracy, increasing oil production, and the FARC on the run.