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The Quebradona copper mine project, Diocese of Jericó, Colombia

Author: Edgar Antonio López, Professor, Faculty of Theology, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana

Year: 2026

Location: Municipality of Jericó, Department of Antioquia, Colombia

People in hats and casual clothes gather under a tent reading "NO MINERIA EN JERICO." in a green, rural mountainous area.
Photo credit: Mesa Ambiental de Jericó

In 2007, the South African company AngloGold Ashanti entered the southwest region of the department of Antioquia in the Colombian Andes with the aim of extracting gold and copper, known as the Quebradona mining project. In 2007, it obtained an exploration license but has not yet received the permit to start operations. The case documents how the Catholic community, led by its diocesan bishop and a women religious community, has trained local communities in the teachings of integral ecology, and accompanied them in mobilizing against illegal attempts of the company to start drilling activities. The case highlights three main areas of response. First, is community support in the form of participation in mobilization activities and in legal defense. A second area is formation in integral ecology and consciousness-raising of the environmental impacts of mining. This is especially important in the context of community division about the potential benefits of mining activities in their region. A third area is advocacy to prevent the expansion of mining in ecologically fragile areas, and to promote better distribution of mining revenues and environmental remediation where mining activities already take place. Overall, the case documents how theological frameworks are translated into actions to protect human dignity and care of creation, while also underlining the role of ecclesial leadership.

Translations were done with DeepL translation software and proofread by human readers who are native language speakers.

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