Peru Copper Production Could Double By 2013 - Ministry

LIMA, Jun 10, 2010 (Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex) -- Peru's copper production could double by 2013, the country's Ministry for Mining and Energy said Thursday.

The ministry said in a statement that mine projects entering production in 2012 should double copper production by the following year.

Peru's current copper production is about 1.3 million tons. The ministry said that by 2015 production could "border" on 4 million metric tons. It didn't provide further details on which projects would boost production, but said in the statement that those entering production in 2012 were valued at a total of $14 billion.

Peru is currently the world's second-biggest copper producer after Chile. It is first in silver and sixth in gold, and produces a number of other metals including zinc and tin, according to the ministry.