La Guajira
Home to Cerrejón coal mine (closing by 2034) and 15GW wind potential, but only 32MW operating as Wayuu resistance stalls green energy.
The Cerrejón open-pit coal mine has shaped La Guajira since 1985, creating one of Latin America's largest mining operations while displacing 15 of 21 Wayuu Indigenous communities in its vicinity. The mine consumes 12 million gallons of water daily in an arid region where potable water remains inaccessible for many rural residents. Coal dust has degraded air quality, causing pulmonary and cardiovascular disease. Yet the mine employs over 5,000 people and has only nine years left in its lifespan—production declines from 2030 with closure expected by 2034.
The region's winds could generate 15 gigawatts of power—enough for 37.5 million homes. A 2019 auction awarded 1.1 gigawatts of projects. Yet by late 2024, only two wind farms operate, combining less than 32 megawatts. Italian multinational Enel withdrew from Windpeshi in 2023; EDP Renewables canceled two major projects by late 2024. The Wayuu, burned by decades of corruption that funneled coal royalties away from communities, remain divided over new energy extraction.
President Petro has designated La Guajira for energy transition, but the gap between potential and reality widens each year. By 2026, the department will reveal whether prior consultation and benefit-sharing can unlock wind development—or whether a 'legacy of frustration' from coal repeats with wind turbines.