On Wednesday, Sintramienergetica union president Raul Sosa told Bloomberg the El Descanso and Pribbenow mines in northern Colombia were closed after protesters arrived, though no local media outlets confirmed the cause of the fatality that led to the demonstration or at which mine the death had occurred.

“The protest was lifted last night (Tuesday) and shifts began," Sintramienergetica senior member Stevenson Avila told Reuters.

The company did not release a public statement on Wednesday on the fatality or the resulting rally.

Alabama-based Drummond, Colombia’s second-largest producer, is projecting a 14% jump in production year-on-year in 2011 to 25 million tonnes.

It is also currently investing in El Descanso to expand its output from 3Mt per annum to 25Mtpa.

In a report late on Tuesday, Reuters said Drummond’s exports would likely not see an impact because of the short duration of the protests and since the producer stockpiled its output.

Drummond teamed with Japanese firm Itochu in a $1.5 billion deal in June that gave the latter a 20% stake in a new entity, Drummond International.

Drummond will retain an 80% interest in the joint venture.

Colombia is the world’s fourth-largest exporter and its primary producers include Drummond, Glencore and the Cerrejon JV.