The company said “unauthorized personnel”, as of late Monday, were blocking all access to the mine using heavy mining equipment.

Officials confirmed none of the strikers involved in the action are employees of Pacific Coal or its subsidiary Carbones Colombianos del Cerrejon.

Strike activity began on January 22 at 6am local time at the complex in Barrancas, Department of La Guajira.

The striking workers are from Gente Caribe and Gente Estrategica, which provides workers to the company’s contracted miner Obras Proyectos Minera SA to mine and remove overburden at La Caypa.

“Allegations by personnel involved are in respect a dispute involving their union, OPM and the personnel providers which, at present, are under review by the labour courts at Riohacha, Guajira,” Pacific Coal said.

“CCC and Pacific Coal are not a part of these proceedings. The company views the actions of retaining private property, occupation of private premises, and blocking the mine as illegal.”

The Barrancas mayor upheld Pacific Coal’s rights over its equipment and mine property on January 23, ordering the group to vacate the premises at that time and return the equipment.

Estimated production losses to date total approximately 75,000 tonnes, though the company said current production increases at its Cerro Largo mine had helped to alleviate any shortfalls.

In fact, two ships are scheduled to uplift 130,000 tonnes of coal by February 5, and the company said it would meet that order between coal from the port stockpile and Cerro Largo production.

“While this dispute does not involve our company or subsidiaries, we are taking all of the steps necessary to ensure this situation is resolved as soon as possible so that normal operations can resume expediently,” chief executive officer Luis Carvajales said.

“We are currently liaising with local and regional authorities with the aim of ensuring the safety of our employees, that the law is enforced with respect to our contracted operations, and that our property rights are protected and upheld.”