Apurimac (153.6%), Arequipa (26.3%) and Madre de Dios (14.6%) regions led Peru's GDP growth in 2016, the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) reported.
Said regions were followed by Puno (6.3%), Huanuco (5.8%), Cusco (5.1%) and Ancash (4.7%), INEI head Anibal Sanchez informed.
Thus, growth of seven Peruvian regions topped the Inca country's 3.9% GDP last year.
Apurimac
Southern-central Apurimac region saw a 153.6% year-over-year rise in 2016. Said result was fueled by the start of operations of
Las Bambas mine, which boosted
copper output by a staggering 4,734% and makes up 96.1% of mining activity.
Apurimac growth drivers also included a construction increase due to greater road infrastructure public works (+56.1%): the rehabilitation of Andahuaylas-Pampachiri-Negromayo Highway and the construction of Llachua-Winchos Jata Highway.
Arequipa
Growth of southern Arequipa region (26.3%) was also spurred by
copper output, up by 122.3% thanks to
Cerro Verde mining company, which accounts for 74.7% of mining production.
Molybdenum (195.3%),
gold (21.2%) and silver (5.9%) production also expanded in the analyzed period.
Arequipa GDP growth was also driven by higher electricity, gas and water activity (+17.0%) due to the start of operations of Puerto Bravo Thermal Power Plant in Islay province.
Madre de Dios
On the other hand, rainforest Madre de Dios region grew 14.6% in 2016 driven by gold production (+37.7%), which contributes 94.2% of its mining activity.
Likewise, the construction sector expanded 15.4% thanks to increasing electricity, water and sanitation infrastructure (33.8%), as well as greater road infrastructure (35.6%).
Lima
In 2016, Lima region's GDP rose by 2.3%.
Said result was mainly explained by services like telecommunications and other information services (+7.1%), public administration and defense (3.7%), transport (3.5%), and other services (4.0%).
Lima's mining and hydrocarbon activity grew as well, driven by Buenaventura mine's gold extraction and Casapalca's silver output.
(END) RGP/RGP/DHT/MVB