Argus reported that Colombia's coal output rose a little in the second quarter year on year as torrential rains prevented the country from producing more coal.

According to figures released today from mining regulator Ingeominas, Colombia produced 20.31 million tonne of coal in the second quarter of the year, compared with 20.2 million tonne in the same period last year.

Colombia, the world's fourth-largest coal exporter, produced 40.65 million tonne in the first half of the year, 3.2% more than the 39.39 million tonne produced in the same period a year earlier.

Colombia has been affected by the La Nina weather phenomenon since 2010, which brings in rain during the traditionally dry months of January and February. This year the rains intensified from the second half of March, and persisted until early June, when La Nina ebbed.

The country's coal federation Fenalcarbon president Jaime Olivella told Argus that “Rains were so severe that the largest mining companies worked for only a quarter of what they usually work. Many of the mines were flooded with water.” He added that Months that are traditionally dry such as January and February were rainy months in the department of the Caribbean.”

(Sourced from Argus Media)