Mineral traceability in Colombia: the STM system and MInTraC

The Mineral Traceability System, known as STM, records the purchase, transformation and export of minerals in Colombia, and the Mining Authority authorized MInTraC as its first operator. The system covers gold, coal, coke, emeralds, limestone, clays and construction materials, among other minerals, so it is not limited to precious metals.

Traceability certifies that the mineral being sold or exported has a lawful origin, and its purpose is to curb irregular trading. For a holder operating formally, the record also serves a commercial function, because it is the proof of origin requested by buyers who require a chain of custody.

The obligation falls on holders who produce and sell mineral and on traders who buy, transform or export it. It is linked to the Single Registry of Mineral Traders, the RUCOM, in which traders must be registered and whose renewal has deadlines set by the authority each year.

Traceability adds to the obligations you already have and replaces none of them. What is recorded in the system must match the Production Control report and the royalties paid, and the authority can cross-check those three sources. When a difference appears between them, it must be explainable with the operation's records, which is why the record is prepared looking at all three reports at once.

We start by reviewing which traceability obligations you have, according to the mineral you produce or trade and the activity you carry out. We then explain how they fit with the reports you already submit and prepare the information for registration on the platform. Before registering we cross-check the data against your Production Control report and your royalty payments. That way, what is recorded in the system is consistent with what the authority already knows about your title.