Ecobreves – COLOMBIA: Coal Ports to Be Relocated

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

BOGOTA, Aug 25 2003 (IPS) - The Colombian government is planning to move three coal shipping ports on the northern coast as part of an environmental plan after two ships collided, causing a fuel spill and the temporary closing of nearby beaches. The Aug. 3 collision caused a spill of 45,000 gallons of fuel near Santa Marta Bay, a Caribbean tourism destination, but also a port for shipping coal.

The Colombian authorities had to mediate between the tourism businesses affected by the contamination and the coal exporters, including the transnational Drummond.