Colombia coal exports set to drop as loading ban looms

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

BOGOTA, Jan 13 (Reuters) – Colombia’s coal exports are set to plunge from Tuesday as a ban on ship loading by U.S.-based miner Drummond takes effect, with little immediate hope for a near-term recovery in shipments as a last-ditch workaround was ruled out.

Steam coal shipments are expected to drop by about a third until March after Colombia’s government enforced a law that took effect on Jan. 1 only allowing coal exporters to load ships using enclosed conveyor belts and outlawing the use of cranes and barges. Efforts to find an interim solution have been unsuccessful.