“We are ready for construction. We have worked hard to address social issues and we believe that the company has obtained good results, which is reflected in a climate of relative tranquility,” Jacob said. He said the company is quite optimistic and that construction work will begin in a relatively short period of time, scheduled for the end of this year or early next year.

The $1.4 billion Tia Maria project is expected to produce 120,000 metric tons of copper per year. During the operation phase, 5,400 jobs are expected to be created.

On the first day of the conference, the Peruvian Minister of Energy and Mines, Rómulo Mucho, stated that the start of construction depended on the company. “If it were up to us, it should start tomorrow,” he said.

Southern Peru is planning $7.8 billion is capital investments in the next eight years, including Tia Maria, Arequipa, ($1.4 billion) for 2027; the expansion of the Smelter, Moquegua, ($1.3 billion) for 2029; the start of the Los Chancas project, Apurimac, ($2.6 billion) in 2031 and the start of operations of Michiquillay, Cajamarca, ($2.5 billion) in 2032.