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Rebels bomb train carrying coal from BHPB mine

COLUMBIAN leftist rebels have bombed a train carrying coal from the Cerrejon mine, owned by BHP Billiton, Anglo American and Glencore, as part of a number of attacks meant to hamper the Columbian army's efforts to rescue eight foreign tourists kidnapped last week, Reuters reported.

Staff Reporter

The bombing derailed 17 wagons carrying coal from Cerrejon, Latin America's largest coal operation, to the nearby port of Bolivar, the wire service reported. It halted transport of 17,000 tonnes a day.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia, or FARC, was also blamed for blowing up a gas pipeline, bombing two electrical towers and burning four trucks in a main road in Bolivar province on Friday and Saturday.

Reuters said the attacks all took place in the north of the country, where 2000 Columbian troops are concentrating their efforts to rescue four Israelis, two Britons, a German and Spaniard.

The trekkers were abducted by gunmen, believed to be members of FARC, on September 12. FARC has denied it kidnapped the tourists, and suggested Columbian military intelligence fabricated the abduction to stage a fake rescue, the newsagency reported.

Cerrejon is periodically targeted by FARC. In May the rebel group stopped two buses carrying 44 workers to the mine and attempted to kidnap them, but was forced to let the hostages go when army troops backed by warplanes converged on the scene.

In May last year FARC blew up a train, cutting rail access between the mine and the port of Bolivar.

FARC has often bombed a railway owned by US mining company Drummond in the nearby province of Cesar.

Glencore, Anglo and BHPB took full control of El Cerrejon in February 2002 – giving each a third of the mine - after they agreed to pay Exxon Mobil US$366 million for its 50% stake.

The operation produces about 19 million tonnes of thermal coal a year for export to international markets.

It has sufficient reserves for more than 30 years at current production rates. MiningNews.net

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