Reuters reported that US coal miner Drummond sees its 2009 output from Colombia rising by about 23% with the increase coming from a mine due to start up in the next few weeks.

Mr Augusto Jimenez top official of Drummond said that coal production will rise to about 27 million tonnes in 2009, from around 22 million tonnes last year.

He said that the Birmingham will open its El Descanso Norte in the next few weeks. Drummond will invest USD 1.8 billion in the mine in the South American country over the next two to three years.

He added that the mine will produce 5 million tonnes of coal this year.

(Sourced from Reuters)