Mining 2011 – Colombia

Originally published in Latin Lawyer.

1. Provide an overview of the mining industry in your country. What significance does the mining industry have as a component of the national economy?

The mining industry has progressively gained an important role in the Colombian economy in the past decade thanks to government policies which have favoured foreign investment and promoted mining exploration and exploitation. The permanent control by the government of areas, which in the past were difficult to access, due to public order issues has favoured the exploration of vast territories and the improvement of mining in other areas which historically were being mined in Colombia.

Thermal and coking coal, nickel and emeralds have been the traditional Colombian mining products. Gold, silver and iron ore exploitations have been gaining strength and have presented a constant growth during the past years.