El municipio La Jagua de Ibirico recibe una contraprestacion economica por la explotacion del carbon dentro de su jurisdiccion territorial denominada regalias y compensaciones, este gran beneficio economico deberia ser utilizado con transparencia, eficiencia, impacto, equidad y sostenibilidad para el mejoramiento de la calidad de vida de los habitantes del municipio, para disminuir el indice de necesidades basicas insatisfechas (NBI) y, posteriormente, en proyectos que generen desarrollo economico, tecnologico, cultural y educativo. Este municipio ubicado en el departamento del Cesar ha recibido regalias directas por la explotacion del carbon dentro de su territorio por mas de quince anos y aun no ha disminuido el NBI en menos del 15 %, que es lo permitido por la ley, para iniciar a invertir en proyectos que generen desarrollo economico a la region. En el ano 1993, antes del inicio de la explotacion minera en el municipio, su NBI era 71,81 % y tras quince anos ejecutando los recursos de regalias esta cifra se mantiene superior al 50 %. Keywords: Economic compensation, NBI, royalties. Abstract The municipality of La Jagua de Ibirico receives an economic consideration by coal mining within its territorial jurisdiction called royalties and economic compensation, this great economic benefit should be used with transparency, efficiency, impact, equity and sustainability for improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of the municipality, decreasing the Unsatisfied Basic Needs Index (NBI), and later in projects that generate economic, technological, cultural and educational development. This municipality located in the Cesar´s department has received direct royalties by coal mining within its territory for more than fifteen years and the NBI has not decreased even to less than 15 %, which is the permitted by law, to start investing in projects that generate economic development to the region, its actual NBI is greater than 50 %. In 1993, before the start of mining in the municipality, its NBI was 71,81 % and after fifteen years running the royalties resources this figure remains above 50 %.