La ministra de Energía y Minas, Rosa María Ortiz al clausurar la III Conferencia Petróleo, Gas y Electricidad.
Peru’s mining potential is still “high” and “important in the world,” which turns the country into a “privileged one" for welcoming investors of the aforementioned sector, affirmed today the Minister of Energy and Mines, Rosa Ortiz.
According to the Minister, the solid economy, qualified labor and legal stability are reasons for the affirmation.
The Minister made those remarks during her briefing on the future of mining in Peru and the investment opportunities in the country.
It is held in in the framework of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC-2015) gathering, which is currently being held in Toronto.
She indicated Peru holds the third position in silver, copper, zinc and tin production at a world level.
The country is ranked fourth in the production of lead and molybdenum, she added.
Ortiz explained Peru is the first producer of most metals in Latin America, but copper and silver, at which it holds second position.
“Mining represents over 50% of the total exports. It generates 15% of national private investments and 30% of the income tax on the third category (enterprise tax). The mining activity, currently, makes almost 15% of the country's GDP,” she stated.
Mining investments in Peru, she told, have registered a relevant growth, setting a historic record close to US$10 billion in 2013. Most of it set aside for infrastructure and development of production- and exploration-related activities.
In 2014 mining investments surpassed US$8.6 billion in Peru.
Despite commodities' price drops and the delay in projects, due to several reasons, Peru has the advantage of being the first in silver reserves; third in copper, zinc and molybdenum; fourth in lead and seventh in gold.
Another advantage is the complementary infrastructure Peru offers, above all in regard to “low cost” electric energy, which demand is covered until 2020 thanks to diverse sources of generation, such as: Hydraulic, thermal and natural gas, among others.
(END) RGP/MVB
Published: 3/2/2015