Abelardo de la Espriella’s Government Will Reopen Coal Sales to Israel

Colombia's newly inaugurated right-wing government, led by President Abelardo de la Espriella, is ready to lift the ban on exporting thermal coal to Israel, according to a decree prepared by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. This move comes after the restoration of relations with Israel, following the suspension of exports by former President Gustavo Petro as a form of international pressure against Israel's military offensive in Gaza.

The ban was imposed in 2024 and 2025 to align with international humanitarian law and the Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Colombia's exports of briquettes and thermal coal to Israel have generated annual revenues of approximately $225 million to $447 million in recent years. However, former President Petro's decision led to a significant decrease in employment in the hard coal extraction sector, from 67,717 people in 2024 to 53,946 in 2025, resulting in a loss of 13,771 direct jobs.

Additionally, the mining sector's contribution to the GDP decreased by 7.4% during the same period, with revenues from royalties and compensation falling from $1.333 billion to $1.288 billion.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism argues that lifting the ban would not reduce the global supply of coal to Israel, as it is a traded commodity with multiple suppliers and Colombia operates as a price taker in the market. The measure by former President Petro mainly affected producing regions in La Guajira and Cesar, where the revenues from royalties and compensation are significant for financing territorial public investment.

The new government maintains that the restriction did not meet the suitability and proportionality tests, as it would impose a burden on the productive apparatus, workers, and territorial entities without achieving its intended purpose.