Loaded Coal Train Derails in Northern Colombia; No Injuries

BOGOTA, Colombia--A loaded coal train on tracks used by Alabama-based Drummond Co. and Glencore International PLC's (GLNCY, GLEN.LN) Prodeco derailed in northern Colombia due to a welding problem, Mines and Energy Minister Mauricio Cardenas said Thursday.

Twenty-three cars came off the tracks in the accident and there were no injuries, Cardenas said in a message on the microblogging website Twitter.

"All the coal on the ground due to the accident will be removed in a cleaning process over the coming days," the minister said.

The accident occurred between the cities of Santa Marta and Cienega, both located on Colombia's northern Atlantic coast, the minister said.

The transportation company that operates the train is Ferrocarriles Del Norte de Colombia SA, or Fenoco. Brazilian mining giant Vale SA (VALE, VALE5.BR) has an 8.4% equity stake in Fenoco, although Vale said last month it plans to sell its thermal coal assets in Colombia--including the Fenoco stake--to CPC S.A.S., a unit of privately-held Colombian Natural Resources SAS.

Write to Dan Molinski at dan.molinski@dowjones.com