Zijin Mining Group, the owner of Continental Gold, has initiated legal action against the Colombian state through the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, accusing it of negligence. The lawsuit follows significant disruptions at the Buriticá gold mine in north-western Colombia, which halted operations after a terrorist attack.
In November 2023, Zijin Mining Group announced its intention to pursue legal action, citing increased violence linked to the Clan del Golfo neo-paramilitary group. This group has conducted multiple coordinated assaults on the mine, impacting both workers and infrastructure. The most recent attack occurred on May 19, 2024, when informal miners, armed with firearms and explosives, attempted to forcibly enter the mine. There were also reports that a group of workers might have been trapped inside, although these claims have been met with skepticism from the company.
Continental Gold, which has operated the Buriticá mine since 2020 under Zijin Mining Group’s ownership, described the situation on social media platform X. The company questioned why the illegal miners, if aware of trapped individuals, did not take measures to rescue them and instead used the opportunity to escalate their violent attacks against security personnel.
The Buriticá mine, the largest underground gold mine in Colombia, has the capacity to process 3,000 tons of ore per day. However, the site has faced ongoing issues with illegal mining. According to Reuters, thousands of unauthorized miners extract gold through a network of tunnels and clandestine processing sites controlled by the Clan del Golfo. This group reportedly takes a 10% share of the miners’ output. Local communities are concerned about the potential for increased violence and environmental damage, such as mercury pollution from gold extraction activities.
The Colombian Attorney General’s Office is investigating potential negligence by state officials regarding the protection of Zijin-Continental Gold’s workers. The office has noted that the company had repeatedly requested protection from both national and local authorities to ensure the safety of its personnel and the proper functioning of the mine.
The status of the lawsuit is still pending, with proceedings yet to be scheduled. The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes has accepted the case, but further details on the proceedings are awaited.
