2017-02-09

EL CERREJON - Raf Custers went to the North of Colombia where he visited El Cerrejon, the site of the largest coal mine in Latin America.

El Cerrejon presents itself as 'green'. But the company is increasing its capacity and this is at the expense of the employees, the local residents and the surrounding area. It is shocking that the mine is shifting the bed of watercourses for its expansion, while in this part of Colombia there is a flood and the state of emergency has been declared.

All coal from El Cerrejon is exported: the natural wealth disappears, the mine leaves the people in misery. The company still finds customers in the European Union. How El Cerrejon is linked to those big European consumers will be revealed this spring from the continuation of this research.

Raf Custers

Raf Custers (°1954) is a Belgian historian and journalist.