The suspension of Cerrejón’s mining, railway and port operations set off alarms in different sectors of La Guajira. The Mesa Más La Guajira organization expressed its concern about the consequences that the measure could generate, adopted by the company after the prolonged blockades that have affected mobility on the railway line and the normal development of its productive activities.
The entity pointed out that the situation goes beyond the business sphere and could have direct effects on employment, the regional economy, investment and public finances of one of the departments that has historically depended largely on mining activity.
The organization warned that a prolonged interruption of operations could affect thousands of jobs and reduce important sources of income for La Guajira.
According to information disclosed by Mesa Más La Guajira and cited by Semana Magazine, Cerrejón’s operation currently generates more than twelve thousand jobs between direct workers and contractors, a significant part of them occupied by inhabitants of the department.
According to the figures presented by the organization, the company supports 12,434 jobs, of which 61% correspond to Guajira labor. This indicator makes the company one of the main generators of formal work in the region.
The concern also extends to the resources that mining activity contributes to territorial administrations.
During 2025, Cerrejón would have delivered close to 673 billion pesos in royaltiesin addition to approximately 79 billion pesos in taxes and contributionsresources intended to finance programs and investments in municipalities in the area of influence and in the department.
Beyond direct jobs, the organization highlighted the multiplier effect that the mining operation has on other economic sectors.
The contracting of local goods and services constitutes one of the main sources of economic revitalization in La Guajira, especially for small and medium suppliers that depend on industrial activity.
Mesa Más La Guajira indicated that during the last year more than 350 billion pesos in local purchases and contractingresources that strengthen regional production chains and generate opportunities for companies linked to services, transportation, food, maintenance and other complementary activities.
The organization considers that a prolonged stoppage could affect hundreds of contractors and suppliers, in addition to generating uncertainty among investors interested in developing projects in the region.
Although the organization expressed respect for social demonstrations and recognized the constitutional right of communities to express their disagreements, it insisted on the need to move towards concerted solutions.
Mesa Más La Guajira stated that dialogue continues to be the main mechanism to overcome existing differences and prevent the situation from having deeper effects on the economic development of the department.
The entity recalled that La Guajira faces important social challenges related to poverty, employment, access to services and generation of productive opportunities, reasons why it considers it essential to preserve economic activities that contribute to financing regional development programs.
In that sense, he warned that the continuity of restrictions on logistics infrastructure could impact the competitiveness of the department and affect the confidence of companies interested in investing in the region.
The suspension occurs amid a context of growing concern about the sustainability of some strategic economic activities for La Guajira.
The productive sectors are carefully observing the evolution of the conflict that keeps the operation interrupted, while conversations between the parties involved and the competent authorities take place.
Mesa Más La Guajira concluded by calling on the communities, social organizations, authorities and other actors involved to build agreements that allow reestablishing the necessary conditions for the functioning of productive activity.
The organization maintained that the department needs to strengthen investment, expand job opportunities and promote conditions of economic stability that favor the well-being of the population. In this scenario, he considered it a priority to find solutions that allow us to overcome the situation and avoid greater impacts on employment, public income and the regional economy.
