Formulation of Business Strategies to Strengthen the Competitiveness of Small-Scale Coal Mining in the Municipalities of Tópaga and Gámeza, Boyacá

Abstract

Small-scale coal mining in Tópaga and Gámeza (Boyacá) represents an essential component of the rural socio-economic fabric, although its development is compromised by marked technological and structural deficiencies. Through the analysis of 151 mining titles and a detailed characterization of 33 production units, critical factors limiting their sustainability were identified, notably the lack of administrative frameworks and a low financial culture that leads to operational vulnerability. The findings were categorized into four dimensions, economic, institutional, technological, and environmental, whose interrelation explains the low productivity levels recorded. Consequently, this study formulates business strengthening and innovation strategies aimed at evolving from a subsistence model toward formal competitiveness. By establishing key strategies, an integral intervention is proposed to achieve technical efficiency, occupational safety, and environmental responsibility, thereby consolidating a solid pillar for territorial development in the region.