The proposed changes will take place this year and will reduce cost by $4 per tonne the deputy mines and energy minister Cesar Diaz told the Latin American Energy and Mining Association's coal conference in Bogota¡, on Thursday.
The project consists of modifying the stretch between Puerto Salgar and the mouth of the river in Bocas de Ceniza, in Barranquilla department, for up to 10 years.
DiÂaz told the conference he expects Colombia's coal exports to grow by $700million this year as prices are expected to rise.
The official said he expected Colombia's coal sector to employ approximately 20,000 people directly this year and another 120,000 indirectly.
Last year Colombian coal production dropped 4% to 85.5Mt.
