Mines and Energy Minister Hernan Martinez said the country's mining sector contribution to the economy should grow 6.7 percent a year after comparing the domestic industry with the region's mining leaders such as Chile and Peru.

"Despite the current world financial crisis and the prices of coal, Colombia is still among the best not only in terms of low costs but also because of its quality," the minister told a coal conference organized by McCloskey Group.

Colombia is among the top six producers of thermal coal, which is sold mostly to U.S. and European markets. But its road network, ports and cargo rail system are underdeveloped and in some cases insufficient to meet demands of expansion projects proposed by major exporters working in the Andean country.

Colombia's main producers are U.S. firm Drummond and Carbones del Cerrejon, run by BHP Billiton, Xstrata and Anglo American.

Martinez said plans for improving infrastructure include the construction or rebuilding 5,000 kilometers of roadway with an investment of $560 million. Caribbean port work and the construction and improvement of 1,300 kilometers of railway lines for cargo are also planned.

Colombia has proven reserves of 7,000 million tonnes of coal, but could reach as much as 17,000 million tonnes. Most of the reserves are located in the northeast of the country in Cesar, Guajira, Santander and Norte de Santander departments.

Global coal prices reached record levels in 2008, but along with other commodities, prices have fallen as demand eases amid the financial crisis battering economies across the world.

Some analysts expect world demand for thermal coal to rebound next year. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics forecasts world trade to rise 3.3 percent to 723 million tonnes with supply expected to remain constrained.