Peru saw a year-over-year rise in the production of copper (4.72%), zinc (12.62%), iron (9.53%) and molybdenum (3.7%) during the first semester of 2017, the Energy and Mines Ministry (MEM) reported Friday.
MEM-General
Mining Bureau's latest report revealed accumulated zinc output reached 708,011 fine metric tons (FMT) as of June.
Such result was mainly driven by
Antamina mining company, which contributed 205,810 FMT or 29.07% of national production.
Energy and Mines Minister Cayetana Aljovin underlined Ancash region led the Inca country's
zinc production (229,676 FMT; 32.44% of total output), followed by Junin and Pasco regions at 19.84% and 17.29%, respectively.
Copper
Copper production in the first half of the year totaled 1,175,093 FMT underpinned by Cerro Verde and Las Bambas mining firms, which accounted for 20.97% and 18.52% of national output, respectively.
In terms of regions, Arequipa was the main
copper contributor at 21.03%, followed by Ancash (18.64%) and Apurimac (18.52%) regions.
Other metals
Regarding iron,
Shougang Hierro Peru extracted 4,582,549 FMT in January-June this year, thus staying in the upswing for nine straight months.
On the other hand, molybdenum production stood at 12,743 FMT, 46.93% of which was extracted in southern Arequipa region.
Last June, 640 mining units posted metallic and non-metallic mining activity, whereas other 299 units reported
exploration activities.
Total mining activities cover 1,627,109 hectares, which represents 1.27% of the Andean nation’s territory.
To conclude, the Energy and Mines Ministry informed
mining investment bounced back —in most fields— compared to 2016, thus remaining in positive territory in the past months.
Growing sub-sectors are: exploration (27.7%), exploitation (15.8%), preparation (32.1%), infrastructure (19.7%), mining equipment (10.9%) and investments in concentrator equipment (11.6%).
(END) CNA/CNA/DHT/MVB