Glencore’s (LSE: 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 Tuesday evening near Uribia in the northern department of La Guajira. No injuries were reported and mine activities continue as normal, Glencore said.
“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.”
Glencore’s railway network runs for 150 km, connecting the site to Puerto Bolívar, where production is exported to the international markets.
A a damage assessment will be conducted once the area is safe to enter, Glencore said.
Repeated disruptions
Tuesday’s incident follows more than 80 blockades affecting Cerrejón this year amid protests against government authorities over the lack of basic services in nearby communities — rather than disputes with the company itself.
Previous disruptions have caused the mine to shut down operations, highlighting the operation’s dependence on the 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, having produced 16.8 million tonnes of coal in 2025.
Shares in Glencore rose 1.3% to 552.50 pence apiece on Wednesday in London, valuing the company at about £64 billion (C$120 billion).
(With files from Reuters)
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