Colombia

Colombia has a long history of mining dating back to pre-Colombian times when indigenous communities mined gold, silver, and emeralds. During the Spanish colonial period, the mining industry became a key driver of the economy, with the discovery of the El Dorado myth and the famous Muisca raft made of gold. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, foreign companies took control of the mining industry, particularly focused on gold and silver extraction, leading to social and environmental conflicts with local communities. In the 1930s, the Colombian government established a new mining code, which aimed to encourage national industry and protect the environment, but foreign companies continued to dominate until the 1970s.

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In the late 20th century, new mining activities emerged in Colombia, particularly focused on coal, oil, and emeralds. Coal mining became a major industry in the north of the country, driven by the opening of the Cerrejón mine, which became one of the largest open-pit coal mines in the world. However, coal mining has also been associated with environmental impacts and human rights abuses against indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities. The discovery of oil reserves in the eastern plains and the Caribbean coast brought a new period of expansion in the 1990s, with the creation of new oil companies and the development of oil pipelines. On the other hand, emerald mining in the northeast of the country has also brought socioeconomic benefits to the local population. Nowadays, mining represents an important but controversial sector of the Colombian economy.