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The promotion held in Japan for investment opportunities in mining Peru offers, for the country’s good economic conditions, resources and respect the environment.

The official of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) described the very productive visit after a trip that visited northern Japan, a former mining area, to see the work in the field of Japanese companies in the sector.

He also met with representatives of four major Nipponese company with interests in the Peruvian mining industry, including Mitsui Mining, Mitsubishi Corporation and Sumitomo Corporation, which found interest in increasing their presence.

Deputy Minister of Mines said that the Japanese are interested in traditionally abundant resources in Peru, such as zinc or copper, as well as other rare metals such as titanium or gallium.

The official stressed that another objective of the trip was to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Corporation for Oil, Gas and Metals of Japan (JOGMEC), in order to receive support Nippon in the treatment of waste generated after the close of mining, such as acid water.

“While in Peru we still have many mines in operation, will be closed and the operation is as important as a good end,” he said after his five-day visit to Japan.

In early January Antamina announced an investment of 1,288 million dollars to expand its mining facilities and processing capacity in mineral mining site located in the San Marcos district, province of Huari (Ancash).

“It has been estimated that this increased investment will drive growth of the company’s production by 38 percent, and they have also generate higher transfers for income taxes totaling $ 1.900 each additional” she said.

He said that the taxes paid by Compania Minera Antamina bordering the Treasury $ 500 million a year.

The company noted that in 2008 it announced a 77 percent increase in its reserves of mineral deposits in the reservoir.

The new mineral reserves were incorporated into a feasibility study completed in 2009, the same as possible to evaluate the options for expanding the company announced today.

The expansion of reserves include increases in mineral processing capacity, the same will rise 38 percent to 130 thousand metric tons (MT) daily, increase reserves by 77 percent processed to 1.100 million tons and extend the life span of the mine until 2029.

He indicated that this project will create many jobs directly and indirectly at the national and only in the construction phase (2010 – 2011) will generate 1.450 direct jobs.

The expansion will also generate approximately 1,700 additional jobs on average (direct contractors) with respect to the scenario without enlargement (period 2009 – 2029), and also guarantee employment for six years (2024-2029).

Also, the current operations of Antamina have brought positive impacts in the areas of influence, through fee and royalties to municipalities and the regional government of Ancash 3.317 million soles in the period 2001 to 2009.

Mining operations have also generated $ 164 million for the Antamina Mining Fund (WWF) between 2007 and 2009.

Choose municipal authorities, congressmen and president in Peru would not affect investment in mineral exploration that are already agreed for the coming years, the report concludes Evolution of Investment in Mineral Exploration: Peru and Latin America 2002-2010, developed by the School of Management and Economics (Gerens).

“In the 2006 election was a sharp drop in this indicator because it presented a political arena where there were issues that created concern among investors,” said President Gerens, Armando Gallegos.

He explained that the current scenario is not the same as employers are confident that the new government will continue to set the country on the path of growth that currently carries.

“The potential problem is the social side, ie the areas affected by mining projects. This is where you have to work hard to reach agreements that benefit everyone, “he said.

He said that the main weaknesses that the country has to continue to attract more investment, and where it should be stressed, are the labor standards, social-political variables, as well as the lack of human talent in mining.

“For example, a key issue that investors are already feeling great concern is that there may not be sufficient for knowledge professionals mining projects that will begin to run in the next five years,” he said.

While this represents an opportunity for many young people just beginning their college education, could also encourage companies to bring in outside professionals to meet the market demand.

“Contrary to this scenario, Peru has advanced significantly in areas such as infrastructure and uncertainty about the Protected Natural Areas (ANP), which gives some confidence to investors,” said Gallegos.

Arequipa is the fourth most important region of Peru’s gold production and the main challenge for authorities is to promote the formalization of artisanal gold mining, said the Director of Mining Promotion MEM, Henry Moon.

Revealed that participated in the 2009 Arequipa 12.5 percent of total mineral exports and 34.6 percent of copper exports, and is the second most important region in the production of this metal. While a total of 72 non-metallic mining units belonging to large, medium and small companies are in full production in the Arequipa region, which are in the provinces of Arequipa, Camana Caravelí Islay (Cocachacra) and Caylloma.

He said among the largest companies engaged in the mining sector is Yura, which is one of the oldest and the fourth producer of cement, leading the market supply and Andean coast of southern Peru. Its concrete division serves the construction industry, meeting their requirements of ready mix and precast concrete.

Among the smaller non-metallic mineral producers is Angel Benavente, who for 20 years dedicated to the extraction, processing and export to several countries in the so-called stone slab in its different varieties, employing directly more than 250 people.

This stone has many uses: in the construction and finishing of floors, walls, terraces, kitchens, parks, gardens, swimming pools, balconies, waterfalls, murals, etc.., And a variety of products are sourced from non-metallic mining . Added Company Minera limestone and calcium are in the South Pacific group of companies that belong to this category.

It also highlights the activity of the Laguna de Salinas Mine, located 80 kilometers from Arequipa, at 4,100 meters above sea level, where the company extracts minerals boric Inkabor (Ulexite and Inyoita), which are ingredients used for the production of tiles ceramic tiles and pottery, fertilizer, fiberglass, wood preservative, pharmaceutical and cosmetics.

The open pit mine operated only six months a year due to heavy rain season (January to June) and its estimated reserves of boron are ten million metric tons (MT).

Noteworthy in that period copper sales that were implemented by 2.639 million dollars and 101.2 per cent exceeded the amount recorded in the first four months of 2009 (1,312 million). While exports of gold amounted to 2.460 million, which represented 23.5 percent more than the 2009, as reported by the Central Reserve Bank (BCR).

Also, mining products remained the leadership of Peruvian exports, traditional and nontraditional, representing the period mentioned in 62.7 percent of the total, over 59.6 percent in the first quarter a year earlier.

“This reflects objectively the impact of mining on the whole national economy,” said the MEM. Only in April this year, exports of mineral products amounted to 1.682 million dollars, an amount that exceeds the values ??for January and February, but is below the market in March.

Sales of copper in the fourth month of the year were $ 726 million by representing the copper concentrate 79 percent of the volume shipped, which has been around 102.592 tonnes.

This product is aimed primarily at China, Japan and South Korea. The marketing of gold reached $ 597 million due to higher international prices that achieved this metal in April and averaged $ 1,146.6 per troy ounce, the highest level achieved since January 2009.

From Peru embarked 520.437 fine ounces of gold to different destinations. Moreover, Peruvian zinc exports registered a value of $ 154 million, results that were higher in 95.6 percent recorded in the same month last year.

From January to April embarked 407.277 metric tons of zinc, sales totaled a value of $ 527 million, an increase of 119.1 percent compared to those reported in the first four months of 2009.