Mining minister Carlos Rodado told Dow Jones Newswires that 2011 production would reach between 85 and 90 million tons – higher than last year’s total of 76Mt, which ultimately missed the government’s 90Mt goal.

Most of Colombia’s operations are open-pit and significant rain totals last year were cited for the reduced production.

So far this year, the continued heavy rains have taken a toll on all of its economic sectors, including mining and oil.

“We will have to see how the rain affects us,” Rodado told the news service of the outlook for the second half of 2011.

Also late last week, according to Bloomberg, finance minister Juan Carlos Echeverry confirmed that the Colombian congress had passed a new plan to modify the distribution of oil and coal tax revenue to allow a greater portion of the country to benefit from the increasing revenue.

The plan reportedly enables the provinces that don’t produce either commodity to receive more investment funding. Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos said it would assist with the financing of road and port construction.

The mines of Colombia, the world’s fifth-largest coal exporter, are largely controlled by foreign companies, including Glencore International, BHP Billiton, Xstrata and US-based Drummond.