San Juaquin Mine

This article is part of the Global Coal Mine Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor and the Center for Media and Democracy.

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San Juaquin Mine or San Joaquin Mine is a coal and gas mine located in southwestern Antioquia, situated within the Amagá municipality of Colombia.

Location

The satellite photo below shows the location of the San Juaquin Mine, located in southwestern Antioquia, situated within the Amagá municipality. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "the mine area [is] bounded by two mountain chains and two major faults. To the west, a mountain chain, Moñtanas del Cerdo, and the Amagá Fault limit the deposition of commercial-grade coal forming a natural mine boundary. To the east, a mountain chain, Moñtanas de Arena, and the Piedecuesta Fault also create a natural mine boundary." The mine is 23 miles from the city of Medellin and one mile away from the town of Amagá.

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Background

The San Juaquin Mine is owned by Mina San Juaquin De Propiedad De Carbones San Fernando S.A.S which is a subsidiary of Grupo Corporativo Vatia S.A.S (Vatia). It has been in operations since April 2008. Its initial production was 80,600 tons per year, but according to the EPA between 2008 and 2017 "the mine has consistently produced approximately 180,000 tons per year and has an estimated operational life span of over 50 years."

It is one of the largest longwall mines in Colombia.

2010 Explosion

73 miners died in an explosion in the San Juaquin Mine in 2010. According to reporters, it was one of the "worst mining accidents in the country." One week prior to the explosion, an engineer had warned that something must be urgently done by San Juaquin De Propiedad De Carbones San Fernando S.A.S to control the high temperatures inside the mine, improve ventilation, lower the dangerous level of methane gas, and manage dust. Reports late found that the dust and gas in the mine made it easier for the fire to spread throughout the mine, killing the miners. The cause of the fire is unknown.

The company offered the widows of the miners homes and two million pesos, in exchange for giving up claims and compensation.

Project Details

• Owner: Mina San Juaquin De Propiedad De Carbones San Fernando S.A.S
• Parent company: Grupo Corporativo Vatia S.A.S (Vatia)
• Location: Antioquia, Amagá, Colombia
• GPS coordinates: 6.0282939,75.6922416
• Mine status: Operating
• Start year: 2008
• Mineable reserves:
• Coal type: sub-bituminous
• Mine size: 1,206.7 acres
• Mine type: Underground
• Production: averaging 180,000 tons per annum
• Additional proposed production: expansion planned to continue production rate of 180,000 tons per annum
• Equipment:
• Number of employees:

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

• Colombia and coal

External resources

• EPA: Pre-Feasibility Study for Methane Drainage and Utilization at the San Juaquin Mine, Antioquia Department, Colombia