Colombia's Mining Traceability and Transaction Control System

Country / jurisdiction: Colombia · Year: 2023 · Status: In force · Level: National · Type: Voluntary

Colombia's Minerals Traceability System, established by Decree 2234 of 2023 and implemented through Resolution 759 of 2024 , creates a comprehensive digital platform to track mineral transactions, verify legal origins, and monitor production volumes across the nation's mining sector.

In response to concerns about illegal mining and mineral trading, the Ministry of Mines and Energy issued Decree 2234 in December 2023, followed by the National Mining Agency's Resolution 759 in October 2024. This regulatory framework builds upon existing structures like RUCOM (Unified Registry of Mineral Traders) and GENESIS (subsistence miners registry) to create an integrated digital ecosystem for mineral traceability.

The system operates through two main components: the legal framework (Decree 2234) that establishes requirements for mineral traceability and transaction registration, and the technical implementation (Resolution 759) that creates the Minerals Traceability Platform (PTM). The PTM will be supported by authorised Technological Traceability Operators (OTTM) who facilitate online transaction registration. The system requires biometric authentication for sellers and maintains detailed records of all mineral-related transactions, from extraction through processing and trading. Implementation will be phased, starting with large-scale mining operations in July 2025 and gradually expanding to include medium, small-scale, and subsistence mining by April 2026.

The legislation creates significant changes in Colombia's mining sector:

Introduction of real-time verification of mineral transactions and production volumes

Mandatory digital registration of all mineral transactions through the PTM platform

Creation of a new category of authorised technical operators (OTTMs) to facilitate system usage

Integration with existing platforms like RUCOM, GENESIS, and ANNA MINERÍA for comprehensive oversight

Establishment of penalties up to 1,000 minimum monthly wages and six-month RUCOM suspensions for violations

Implementation of specific requirements for different mining scales, with separate timelines for each sector

Creation of mechanisms for interagency cooperation, including with tax authorities and law enforcement

The system represents Colombia's attempt to digitalise and control mineral trading, aiming to reduce illegal mining and improve sector transparency.

Official source: https://www.funcionpublica.gov.co/eva/gestornormativo/norma.php?i=227210