

Currently released so far... 6230 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
ASEC
AF
AE
AR
AORC
AJ
AU
AM
ABLD
AL
AMGT
ASUP
AFIN
APER
ABUD
AVERY
APCS
AEMR
ADCO
APECO
ASIG
AG
AA
AS
AFFAIRS
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AMED
AO
ACOA
AX
AROC
ATFN
ASEAN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AODE
ATRN
AID
AC
AGMT
CH
CO
CS
CE
CU
CLINTON
CG
CVIS
CMGT
CI
CJAN
CF
COM
CASC
CA
CBW
CM
CDG
CR
COUNTER
CD
CWC
CKGR
CN
CPAS
CJUS
CV
CONS
CT
CY
COUNTERTERRORISM
CIA
CACM
CDB
CAN
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CONDOLEEZZA
CARSON
CL
CIS
CODEL
CTM
CB
ECON
EFIN
EAIR
EUN
EINV
ENRG
EG
ETRD
EPET
ETTC
ELAB
EU
ER
ET
EAGR
ECPS
ECIN
ELTN
EAID
EMIN
EWWT
EFIS
EIND
EC
ES
EN
EI
ENVR
ENGR
ENIV
EUNCH
ENVI
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ELN
EZ
EXTERNAL
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EINT
EUR
ECINECONCS
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EK
ELECTIONS
ECUN
EINVEFIN
ECIP
EINDETRD
EUC
EREL
ECA
ENERG
ENGY
ETRO
EFTA
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
ECONEFIN
EINVETC
EINN
ESA
ETC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ESENV
ETRDECONWTOCS
IN
IC
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
IT
ICTY
IO
IA
IWC
ID
ICRC
ILC
INTELSAT
IMO
ISRAELI
IACI
ILO
ITRA
IBRD
IMF
ICJ
ICAO
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
INTERPOL
IV
IQ
IPR
INRB
ITPHUM
IIP
IL
INR
ITPGOV
IZPREL
IRC
INRA
INRO
IRAJ
IEFIN
IF
KDEM
KCRM
KJUS
KTIA
KWBG
KPAL
KIPR
KTIP
KE
KNNP
KGHG
KICC
KV
KTFN
KU
KCFE
KDRG
KWMN
KSCA
KGIC
KCOR
KFRD
KPKO
KSUM
KPRP
KPAO
KBCT
KIRF
KCFC
KISL
KREC
KSPR
KHIV
KBIO
KMCA
KMPI
KFLU
KSTH
KBTR
KS
KOMC
KOMS
KSEP
KPRV
KFLO
KHLS
KN
KWWMN
KUNR
KLIG
KSTC
KZ
KG
KRAD
KOLY
KTBT
KTDB
KOCI
KAWK
KCIP
KNPP
KWAC
KMDR
KAWC
KIDE
KSAF
KX
KWMNCS
KNEI
KCRS
KVPR
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KACT
KO
KFSC
KR
KPWR
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KFIN
KGCC
KPIN
KPLS
KIRC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KGIT
KBTS
KERG
KWMM
KRVC
KNSD
KVIR
KNUP
KTER
KDDG
KHSA
KMRS
KHDP
KTLA
KPAK
KNAR
KREL
KPAI
KTEX
KCOM
KNNPMNUC
KPOA
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KNUC
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MO
MX
MCAP
ML
MTCRE
MR
MP
MY
MU
MIL
MAR
MC
MRCRE
MTRE
MA
MEPI
MV
MPOS
MD
MZ
MEPP
MOPPS
MAPP
MASC
MT
MERCOSUR
MK
MDC
MI
MAPS
MCC
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MTCR
MG
OREP
OVIP
OFDP
ODIP
OPDC
OAS
OTRA
OSCE
OECD
OIIP
OEXC
OPCW
OPIC
OPRC
OVP
OSCI
OTR
OSAC
OIC
OFFICIALS
OIE
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PREF
PTER
PARM
PBTS
PINR
PINS
PHSA
PK
POL
PM
PINT
PE
PINF
PEL
PA
PARMS
PO
PLN
PROP
PALESTINIAN
PAO
PL
POV
PG
POLITICS
PEPR
PSI
PSOE
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PBIO
PECON
PAK
POGOV
PINL
PKFK
PMIL
PY
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PRAM
PMAR
PGOVLO
PUNE
PORG
PHUMPREL
PF
POLINT
PHUS
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PNAT
PGOVE
PRGOV
PRL
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
SENV
SY
SZ
SOCI
SO
SR
SNAR
SA
SP
SW
SMIG
SU
SCUL
SC
SAN
SN
SL
SG
SYR
SEVN
SF
SI
STEINBERG
SIPRS
SH
SNARCS
SOFA
SANC
SHUM
SK
ST
TRGY
TU
TBIO
TH
TS
TSPL
TT
TPHY
TSPA
TI
TK
TIP
TERRORISM
TZ
TX
TW
TD
TP
TC
TO
TNGD
TINT
TRSY
TR
TFIN
TURKEY
UK
UNGA
UN
UNHRC
UNMIK
UNO
UZ
UNSC
UP
UG
UNHCR
UNDC
US
UNAUS
USTR
UV
UNEP
UY
UNESCO
USUN
UAE
USEU
UNDP
UNCHS
UNVIE
UNCHC
UE
UNDESCO
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06BOGOTA9120, COAL IN COLOMBIA -- ENJOYING A POST-STRIKE BOOM
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06BOGOTA9120.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
06BOGOTA9120 | 2006-10-03 19:07 | 2011-03-16 12:12 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Bogota |
Appears in these articles: http://www.elespectador.com/wikileaks |
VZCZCXYZ0033
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBO #9120/01 2761952
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 031952Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9533
INFO RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 009120
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2016
TAGS: ENRG EMIN ETRD CO
SUBJECT: COAL IN COLOMBIA -- ENJOYING A POST-STRIKE BOOM
REF: A. A.BOGOTA 5486
¶B. B.BOGOTA 7731
Classified By: ECON COUNSELOR LAWRENCE J.GUMBINER FOR REASONS 1(B) AND
(D)
1.(U) Summary. Colombian and foreign coal mining companies
along with various auxiliary companies and GOC officials
gathered for their annual conference in Santa Marta September
21-22. The GOC estimates that Colombia has 17 billion tons of
extractable coal, the largest such reserves in Latin America,
and enough for export for the next 25 years. The industry
provides direct or indirect employment for some 100,000
Colombians. Industry bottlenecks include transportation
infrastructure and the global scarcity of tires for coal
transport trucks. Environmental concerns about dispersion of
coal dust in Santa Marta bay (a coal port and tourist area)
have not gained political traction in the face of the
industry's strong economic performance. Econoff also visited
the Drummond mine and port where recent potential gas finds
(ref b) and security improvements in the rail line were
reviewed. End Summary.
---------------------------
Bullish on Coal in Colombia
---------------------------
2.(U) Colombia's mining agency (INGEOMINAS) estimates that
Colombia has a supply of 17 billion tons of coal reserves, a
25-year supply (compared to a 5-year supply of petroleum
reserves). These are the largest known reserves in Latin
America and the 6th largest in the world. Although many of
the reserves are in traditional zones of conflict in the
Departments of Cesar and Santander, INGEOMINAS considers them
commercially viable. Coal production reached 59 million
tons in 2005, a 10 percent increase over 2004, and jumped an
additional 40 percent from January-May 2006 vs. the same
period in 2005. These figures represent production prior to
the crippling mid-year strikes at the Cerrejon and Drummond
mines which lasted five weeks (Ref A). Post strike figures
have yet to be released. Coal accounts for 46 percent of all
direct foreign investment in Colombia, 12.3 percent of total
exports and 10 percent of exports to the US. It provides
direct employment for 25,000 Colombians, and indirect
employment estimated at 75,000 individuals. 70 percent of
all coal produced is sold to power plants for electricity
generation in the US and Europe. The importance of the
industry to the GOC goes beyond the numbers; Minister of
Mines and Energy Hernan Martinez told the Santa Marta
conference that the industry plays an important role in
providing employment and income for working class Colombians,
contributing to lower crime rates and bolstering national
security by offering an alternative to the armed conflict.
--------------------------------------------- --
Industry Bottlenecks: Infrastructure and Tires
--------------------------------------------- --
3.(U) Industry insiders at the conference pointed to two
consistent bottlenecks as impediments to increased
production: inadequate transportation infrastructure and the
scarcity of tires for coal transport trucks. On
infrastructure, the Chief of Planning for the Transportation
Ministry, Geraldo Dominguez stated that the GOC plans to
expand the rail line in the department of Cesar (where the
Drummond mine is located), as well as expand port facilities
for coal in Santa Marta and Barranquilla. Dominguez added
that the GOC plans to explore the option of transporting coal
via river routes in Capulco (a small port on the Magdalena
River.)
4.(U) The tire scarcity issue was mentioned by virtually all
participating companies. Coal trucks that transport coal
from extraction point to the loading area require specialized
tires due to the weight of their cargo. These tires cost
40,000 USD and have an average life of 2000 road hours.
There are only two manufacturers of the tires -- Firestone
and Michelin -- and they are unable to keep up with current
worldwide demand. There will be no relief in sight until a
new manufacturing facility opens in Brazil in an estimated
three years. Multiple industry sources told Econoff that
coal production could be increased substantially if more
tires were available.
--------------------------------------------- ---
Environmental Concerns Center on Santa Marta Bay
--------------------------------------------- ---
5.(U) The president of Colombia's Economic Society, Dr. Amika
Acosta, raised concerns about the long term environmental
impact of coal dust in the Santa Marta Bay. This is a big
port area that is being touted as potential tourist area due
to cruise ships and the nearby Tayrona National Park. He
complained that this could have serious impact on the long
term health and future economic prospects for Santa Marta.
Former Colombian Environment Minister Juan Mayr -- a native
of Santa Marta -- echoed those concerns. He told EconCouns
that the process of delivering and loading coal at seaside
ports on open barges to transport vessels was causing
noticeable damage to the Bay and surrounding coastline. Mayr
advocates concentrating coal exports in one or two ports
rather than the current system of dotting the coast with
numerous company-owned facility. Puerto Bolivar in La
Guajira presently used for Cerrejon exports, would be the
most logical site, according to the former minister.
--------------------------------------------- ----
Drummond Churns Ahead With Post Strike Production
--------------------------------------------- ----
6.(C) Econoff also had the opportunity to visit the Drummond
Mine in La Loma and the port facility in Santa Marta. The
modern strip mine facility stretches for 50,000 acres, and is
a 24/7 operation that extracts 65,000 tons of coal daily.
Drummond then transports this coal along a private rail line
in 100-car trains, 112 miles to the Santa Marta port. This
coal is mixed at the port facility to get the proper grade
and loaded via shoots on the water to coal ships for
transport to US markets. Company officials confirmed that
Drummond plans to spend USD 5 million this year to further
explore potential natural gas on the edge of their property
in La Loma (Ref B). Drummond officials stand by their
estimate of 1.7 trillion cubic feet of methane, and told
econoff that all data to date indicate that the gas is there.
Ministry of Mines and Energy officials have complained
privately to emboffs that they have yet to see the company's
data, and have been critical of Drummond going forward
publicly with the claim without confirmation from the GOC.
7.(C) Security for the Drummond operation is tight, and there
has been noticeable improvement in recent years. The company
reports that their rail line from La Loma to Santa Marta
(which is also used by 2 other Colombian mining companies)
has had no attacks this year and only 10 attempted attacks in
¶2005. This compares with 20 attacks in 2004. Drummond
officials attribute the improvement to ramped up private
security operations, which involves roving security at
transport times every kilometer along the rail line (Note:
many of these private security guards are former paramilitary
who had operated in the area. End Note).
-------
Comment
-------
8.(U) Comment: Colombia's potential as a major coal exporter
has always been hampered by the risks and costs associated
with security. As security conditions improve, and high
energy prices make extraction of remote mines profitable, we
would expect continued strong growth in the Colombian coal
industry. The environmental concerns of critics could gain
traction should the growing tourist industry in Santa Marta
begin to flex political muscle, but we do not expect that to
occur in the short term. End Comment.
WOOD
=======================CABLE ENDS============================