A higher production of copper, zinc and silver is expected in 2015, due to mineral extractions at projects: Constancia, Cerro Verde and Toromocho, said Edgardo Alva, the General Director of Mining at Peru's Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM).
The gold production would remain at 141 tons this year, while silver is expected to increase by 5% reaching 4,000 tons.
Meanwhile, copper production would increase by 350,000 – 400,000 tons, reaching to 1.8 billion tons, the director estimated.
The expansion is due to the “production beginning” of the Constancia mine project. It will kick off during the first quarter of the year, he informed.
The beginning of operations of Cerro Verde expansion, during the third or fourth quarter, is also a reason for boosting production, Alva added.
The “normalization” of Toromocho’s operations (first quarter) is also a factor, he told Andina news agency.
Likewise, a zinc production recovery is expected. Last year it decreased by 10% reaching only 160,000 tons.
(END) JJN/JJN/MVB
Published: 1/28/2015