Tribunal awards Eco Oro nothing over Colombia's Santurbán mining ban
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
Colombia banned mining in the Santurbán páramo, a high-mountain wetland that supplies water to more than 2.5 million people. On 15 July 2024 a tribunal found the ban legitimate, held Colombia responsible for implementation delays, and awarded Eco Oro no compensation because it could not prove its loss.
- Colombia — no compensation paid against the claim of $690 million Vanguardia
- Eco Oro — claim failed for lack of proof of loss Vanguardia
- Santurbán páramo ecosystem — tribunal recorded that mining would cause irreversible damage Vanguardia
What happened
The tribunal found in 2021 that the ban was legitimate but held Colombia responsible for delays in putting it into effect, according to Vanguardia.
On 15 July 2024 it ruled that Eco Oro had not proven its loss and awarded no compensation against a claim of $690 million, or $1.1 billion with interest.
The tribunal recorded that mining would cause irreversible damage to the páramo ecosystem.
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2024-07-15Defendant wonEco Oro v. Colombia (Santurbán)Not named in the sources reviewed · investor-state arbitration · Eco Oro → Colombia
The tribunal found the mining ban legitimate and held Colombia responsible for delays, but awarded no compensation because Eco Oro could not prove its loss. Vanguardia
Insurers
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- Insufficient Reported but not verified: in August 2026 Colombia's environment ministry reversed an earlier decision closing about 1,500 hectares of the Santurbán páramo complex to mining, where Aris Mining holds a licence.
- Disputed Reported but not verified: a parallel claim, Red Eagle, is reported to have had a different outcome.
- None on record The sources reviewed do not name the forum or the treaty for the Eco Oro claim.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Press and investigations
- Colombia no pagará ni un dólar a Eco Oro por demanda por explotación de oro en SanturbánVanguardia · 2024-07-16
Connected cases
- Investor claim over Colombia's Santurbán mining ban yields no compensation Colombia · 2021–2024
- Eco Oro (Company) — here: claimant; there: Investor claimant over the Santurbán mining ban
- Government of Colombia (Government) — here: respondent; imposed the mining ban; there: Respondent state; banned mining in the páramo
- Colombia's Operation Artemisa: 113 arrests and 13 convictions Colombia · 2017–2022
- Government of Colombia (Government) — here: respondent; imposed the mining ban; there: Launched Operation Artemisa