According to reports by Reuters and Dow Jones, the “terrorist attack”, as Cerrejon has referred to it, occurred just before midnight. No injuries were reported.

The company reportedly said that rebels “seek to destabilize security in the La Guajira region”

While the area has seen a reduction in violence following a US-based crackdown on rebel activity, paired by an uptick in foreign investment, attacks are still a risk in areas of weak state presence, such as that rural northern region of the country.

Reuters quoted a Cerrejon spokesperson as saying that the damage from the bombing was limited and exports had not been affected. The company did not indicate what group might have been responsible.

Cerrejon, which is operated under a venture between BHP Billiton, Anglo American and Xstrata, produces bout 85,000 tonnes of high-quality thermal coal daily.