Latest News

Federal Jury Awards Drummond $256 Million in Colombia Defamation Case

By The City Paper Staff - January 19, 2026

A federal jury in the United States has awarded coal producer Drummond Company Inc. $256 million after finding that a prominent human-rights attorney and his associates orchestrated a campaign of false accusations linking the company to paramilitary violence in Colombia. The verdict, delivered on January 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District […]

War for Gold: Colombia’s Sur de Bolívar trapped as ELN expands to Pacific

By Richard Emblin - August 5, 2025

The ELN guerrilla has intensified its offensive in Colombia’s Sur de Bolívar, deploying drones and battling rivals armed groups for control of alluvial gold mines. The region has become a testing ground for aerial terror, forcing some 7,500 to be confined in this dangerous chapter of the internal conflict.

Canada’s Cordoba Minerals sells Colombia stake in Alacrán to Chinese Consortium

By The City Paper Staff - May 12, 2025

Canada’s Cordoba Minerals has sold its remaining 50% stake in Colombia’s Alacrán copper project to China’s JCHX-led consortium, marking its exit from the country after a decade of operations.

Colombian military quells miners’ strike in the Bajo Cauca

By The City Paper Staff - March 13, 2023

Colombia’s Security Forces began clearing roads of debris in northeastern Antioquia after a violent weekend in which one person was killed and 25 injured.

Colombia’s Petro wants energy sector to fund social spending

By Richard Emblin - September 12, 2022

By imposing new taxes on the mining and energy sectors, as well as a gasoline surcharge, President Petro’s energy agenda could drive up inflation.

Colombia inaugurates two Chinese mega-projects in less than a week.

By Richard Emblin - October 28, 2020

Construction of the Bogotá Metro and inauguration of one of the country’s largest gold projects by Chinese companies will transform Colombia’s transport and mining sectors

Colombia’s National Parks under threat from gold mining and ranching

By Richard Emblin - March 18, 2020

Illegal activities in National Parks is accelerating deforestation. Artisanal mining and cattle ranching among the environmental predators.

Canadian gold mine workers targeted by armed group in Antioquia

By The City Paper Staff - September 20, 2018

An attack Thursday against geologists and contractors working for the Canadian gold mining company Continental Gold was allegedly perpetrated by ex-FARC dissents.

Mystery of the Great War nurse who ended up in El Pato, Antioquia

By Charles Goodson-Wickes - April 19, 2018

The mystery of how an English nurse ended up in a Colombian gold mine has also revealed the existence of a cemetery for foreigners in El Pato.

La Batea: A visual testament of informal gold mining in Colombia

By Richard Emblin - January 17, 2018

A book documenting small scale gold mining in Colombia offers an honest look at an ancient industry.

Village votes to ban mega mine of ‘La Colosa’

By Bram Ebus - April 7, 2017

Residents of Cajamarca took a nearly unanimous decision in a popular vote on March 26 to block a massive gold mine, dubbed ‘La Colosa’.

Emeralds mined in Muzo, Colombia

From Muzo emerald mine, Colombia’s ‘green fire’ goes global

By Alden Pyle - March 29, 2016

Under foreign ownership, Colombia’s Muzo emerald mine seeks to offer world-class emeralds without the occasionally violent tensions of the past.

Blue sky mining in Manaure

By The City Paper Staff - September 6, 2015

Workers gather sea salt in the Guajira peninsula near Manaure.

A Colosa-l disaster?

By John Lundin - March 14, 2014

La Colosa is considered the second largest gold reserve in Colombia. The environmental impact for Tolima remains dubious.

Bureaucracy and low prices fro gold are creating a crisis in the sector.

Gold: contraction and crisis

By Paul Harris - October 22, 2013

Colombia’s exploration sector has experienced a profound contraction that goes beyond the arid financial markets and lower prices for gold. Is there a crisis?

Emerald miners in Colombia by Mauricio Morales

In search of the ‘green fire’

By The City Paper Staff - April 14, 2013

Colombia’s emerald industry relies on guaqueros, men and women who risk everything searching for “green fire.”