Peru to double current copper output by 2016: mine minister

Peru will more than double its copper production from the current 1.3 million tons to 2.8 million by 2016, said the country’s Minister of Energy and Mines Jorge Merino during the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada 2013 conference held this week in Toronto.

According to Merino, Peru’s goal is to reach levels equal to 50% of copper production in Chile, the world’s top copper producer.

The expected revenue — close to $2 billion — could allow major progress in the country as it could be used, for instance, to build 74 hospitals or 5,400 km of roads, added the minister.

Image courtesy of RTV Lima