While an effective date for Pizarro’s departure was not provided, officials said the seat’s functions would be managed in the interim by chief executive officer Luis Carvajales while Pacific sought a permanent replacement.

Also, due to the company operations’ breadth as well as the technical expertise required to oversee functions, officials confirmed they were considering the option of supporting the COO by redistributing some of its roles among the Pacific management team.

“On behalf of the company, I would like to extend our thanks to Giovanni Pizarro for his efforts to advance the company's assets,” Carvajales said.

“We are excited by the progress we have made on our production and exploration assets in Colombia and look forward to updating our shareholders.”

In February, Pacific Coal recommenced mining at its La Caypa mine, two weeks after illegal strikers blocked all access to the operation and forced a work stoppage.

“The disruption was cleared up when the Barrancas municipality issued an order for the unauthorized personnel to clear the premises, which was enforced by local police,” the company said.

“The police force that participated in these events is still at La Caypa and will remain stationed there throughout next week.”

Pacific Coal first announced the illegal strike on January 30, when it confirmed the presence of “unauthorized personnel” who were not employees of Pacific Coal or its subsidiary Carbones Colombianos del Cerrejon but were from Gente Caribe and Gente Estrategica, which provided workers to the company’s contracted miner Obras Proyectos Minera SA to mine and remove overburden at La Caypa.

In addition to La Caypa, Pacific Coal also operates the Cerro Largo open pit operation and the Cl Jam underground mine.