Colombia resumes coal exports to ‘Israel’, reversing Petro ban
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
Colombia’s new government has authorized the resumption of thermal coal exports to ‘Israel’, overturning a ban imposed by former President Gustavo Petro in response to the assault on Gaza.
Commerce Minister Mauricio Gómez Amín announced the decision on Friday, appearing in a video alongside President Abelardo de la Espriella and holding the decree.
“We have the decree that authorizes the export of coal,” Gómez Amín said, describing it as one of the measures taken in the first 15 days of the new administration.
Petro’s government first restricted coal shipments to ‘Israel’ in June 2024 through Decree 1047, later tightening the prohibition in August 2025 with Decree 0949 to eliminate exceptions for preexisting contracts.
The measures were framed as a response to ‘Israel’s’ assault on Gaza. Colombia had been ‘Israel’s’ largest supplier of thermal coal; sales reached roughly $450 million in 2023 according to ‘Israeli’ embassy figures, with annual volumes around 3.5 million tonnes representing a significant share of Colombia’s coal exports.
The ban led to a complete halt in Colombian shipments after the second decree took full effect. Industry groups estimate the suspension cost Colombia about 3.5 million tonnes of annual exports, equivalent to roughly $200 million in revenue, along with lost royalties for producing regions such as Cesar and La Guajira.
Carlos Cante, president of the National Federation of Coal Producers (Fenalcarbón), noted that ‘Israel’ responded by increasing purchases from South Africa and expanding the use of natural gas in some power plants.
“Being able to recover that market in the volume that Colombia had is going to be very complicated,” Cante said.
De la Espriella, who took office on August 7, had campaigned on restoring close ties with ‘Israel’, describing the relationship as one that would be “like never before.”
Early actions included restoring diplomatic relations, recognizing ‘Israeli’ sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and signaling interest in opening an embassy in Jerusalem.
The coal decision forms part of a broader shift toward stronger commercial and security cooperation.
