Peru's Minister of Energy and Mines, Romulo Mucho, announced the approval of the technical report related to the Cerro Verde copper mine expansion project. Cerro Verde, located in the Arequipa region in the southwest, accounts for nearly 19% of Peru's copper production and 34% of its molybdenum production, and possesses one of the largest concentrate processing facilities in the world, with an average daily processing capacity of over 400,000 tons. From 2026 to 2044, Cerro Verde expects its average ore production to reach 420,000 tons per day. Mining activities are expected to end in 2052, when existing reserves are expected to be exhausted. According to Minister Mucho, this expansion project, combined with other development projects, Cotabambas, Conga, Galeno, La Granja, and Michiquillay, will enable Peru's copper production to reach 4 million tons per year, close to Chile's.