• The President of Rumbo a PERUMIN commented on the projections that suggest our country may lose its position as the world's second-largest copper producer by 2026.

The projections within the mining industry suggest that Peru could lose its position as the world’s second-largest copper producer to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the years 2026-2027, as recently indicated by Wood Mackenzie Consultancy.

In this regard, the president of Rumbo a PERUMIN, Domingo Draco, stated that Peru should focus on showcasing its mining projects, especially those related to copper, as the energy transition and the use of clean energy across the planet provide a favorable context.

“It is said that Congo is going to surpass us, but never mind the ranking. What is important is to increase our production and, consequently, our resources to continue on the path of development and gap closing, which our country so desperately needs,” he said.

Currently, Peru is the world's second-largest copper producer, with a production of 2.5 million, while our neighbor Chile produces double that amount. This is why we need to create the necessary conditions for investors to decide to move forward with more mining projects.

90% of Arequipa’s Exports

On the other hand, during the Rumbo a PERUMIN event, Domingo Drago mentioned that 30% of the GDP of the Arequipa region, as well as 90 % of its exports, are related to the mining activity.

He added that mining generates 30,000 direct jobs, which in turn represent 180,000 indirect jobs and a transfer of resources of over 1.4 billion soles to the sub-national governments in 2022, reaching a historic maximum in the last decade. This is a positive indicator, especially considering the post-pandemic crisis. 

“This, of course, presents a quite significant window of opportunity for subnational authorities to concentrate their efforts on improving the quality of life in areas such as education, health, transportation, and public services—the areas that people need the most,” he claimed.

Arequipa ranks as the fourth most competitive region in Peru, according to IPE Regional Competitive Index. The regional has consolidated its role as a mining cluster that brings together technological and innovative providers. “In this sense, mining serves as an engine of sustainable development not only in Arequipa, but also in various regions across Peru,” he underscored.