The Colombian congress has approved amendments to the country's mining law that have been under discussion for several months, a senate committee advisor said on Thursday.

"The last debate on amendments is over and now these changes will be signed and become law," the advisor said.

One of the most significant changes the amendments will make is to increase state control over mining contracts in order to avoid speculation in mining areas.

The reforms also give small businesses the chance to legalize themselves with the aim of doing away with informal mining.

In addition, the amendments limit mining in national parks and other protected territories.

Mining minister Hernán Martínez has said he considered the unamended law a good one but with these changes it will be even better. "It makes mining deals more fair and now the state can have some say in what happens in the sector," he said.

The amendments will be added to the original law passed in 2001.