Big strike hits Colombia's Cerrejón top coal exporter

Workers at Colombia's largest coal exporting company Cerrejón began a strike on Thursday, the first in more than two decades, after the two sides failed to reach an agreement during last-minute talks on wages and benefits.

The dispute adds to problems in the Andean nation's coal industry, which is facing an environmental inquiry into Drummond, the second- argest exporter, and a dispute at a mine owned by a Goldman Sachs Group affiliate.

In total, about 85 percent of Colombia's daily coal production will be shut down as a result of the sector's recent problems, according to calculations by Reuters and industry sources.

Source: Reuters