Anglo American, Xstrata and BHP Billiton are drilling $3.1billion into expanding their jointly-owned coal mining complex in Colombia. The trio of mining companies will each contribute $437million to the expansion pot.
The Cerrejon site includes an open-pit mine that brings up 32 million tonnes of coal a year, rising to 40 million tonnes after the upgrades which are due to be finished in 2013.
Coal makes up roughly half of Colombia’s energy production, according to International Energy Agency.