Legal threats, not war, top commodity producers' concerns in Colombia - Reuters

Gold mining companies have invested hundreds of millions of dollars but not extracted a gram. Palm farmers are told their land belongs to someone else. Some communities are voting to ban mining in areas already awarded for exploration.

Whether or not President Juan Manuel Santos can salvage a peace deal with Marxist rebels that was rejected by voters on Oct. 2, legal roadblocks and high taxes are a major deterrent for companies looking to invest in Colombia.

Santos says ending Latin America's longest-running conflict would open up vast areas of land to development, reduce corporate security costs and bring additional growth of up to 1.5 percent a year.

Since voters narrowly rejected the deal, Santos has scrambled to extend a ceasefire with the rebels and meet with opposition figures in a bid to find common ground and resurrect hopes of a negotiated end to the 52-year war.

But even companies eager to explore former conflict zones say other worries are more pressing.

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