Permalink: https://media.greenpeace.org/archive/The-Cerrejon-Open-Cast-Coal-Mine-27MZIFLW4499.htmlConceptually similarThe Cerrejon Open Cast Coal MineGP01L1NCompleted★★★★The Cerrejon Open Cast Coal MineGP01L1QCompleted★★★★The Cerrejon Open Cast Coal MineGP01L1WCompleted★★★★Cerrejon Open Cast Coal Mine SignGP01L1PCompleted★★★★Child on Cerrejon Open Cast Coal MineGP01L21Completed★★★★Trucks on Cerrejon Open Cast Coal MineGP01L20Completed★★★★Tamaquito Community MemberGP01L1HCompleted★★★★Truck with Coal on RoadGP01L1MCompleted★★★★Truck with Coal on RoadGP01L1UCompleted★★★★View AllGP01L1OThe Cerrejon Open Cast Coal MineThe Cerrejon open cast coal mine. The environment at the mine is filled with fly ash, sulphur and methane fumes while the waters are contaminated by waste sludge and noxious chemicals. Locations:Colombia-Guajira-South AmericaDate:29 May, 2008Credit:© Greenpeace / Steve MorganMaximum size:4992px X 3328pxKeywords:Air pollution-Cerrejon Zona Norte (CZN) coal mine-Chemicals-Climate (campaign title)-Coal-Day-Energy-KWCI (GPI)-Mining-OutdoorsShoot:Coal Mine Affected Communities Documentation in ColombiaColombia is the fourth largest coal exporting country in the world. The Cerrejon Zona Norte (CZN) mine on the Guajira peninsula is the largest opencast coal mine in the world. The site is also infamous for the widespread human rights violations against indigenous and Afro-Colombian people. The CZN mine covers 150 square miles in southern Guajira, the site consists of an integrated mine, railroad and a coastal export terminal. The Colombian government claims that the mine brings progress to the poverty-stricken region of La Guajira. But the reality is that Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities are under siege by the mine as much of the land close to the mine is uninhabitable due to blasting, dust and contamination. Miners and local communities suffer from poor health and the loss of land, homes, livelihoods and even life. The surrounding air is polluted by fly ash and methane and the water is contaminated by waste sludge and a cocktail of other chemicals. Local communities are being displaced by force to allow the expansion of the mine. Related Collections:Who's holding us back? (All photographers)