Colombian radio station RCN reported the activity in an interview with the director of the Colombian Maritime Authority, Captain Guillermo Dia.

The plan is a condition for renewing Drummond’s coal unloading licence and will take at least 48 hours to process.

The National Environmental Licensing Authority in Colombia ordered the suspension of coal loading at the Drummond Coal port following the near-sinking of a loaded coal barge in January.

The barge reportedly had about 2000 tonnes of coal aboard and the environmental impact is not yet known.

Drummond is an 80:20 joint venture with Japanese firm Itochu.

According to producer data, its Mina Pribbenow and El Descanso operations in Colombia have total proven and probable reserves of 2 billion tons of steam coal.

The company is US-based and also has coal operations in Alabama.