Five major copper mines, with an estimated investment of $13 billion, are expected to begin production in Peru before 2016, upping the country's output of the red metal from 1.3 million tonnes last year to 2.8 million tonnes.

According to data provided by the Minister of Energy and Mines (MEM), and quoted by Gesti�n (in Spanish), the first one to begin mining is Hudbay Minerals' $1.55bn Constancia project in Cusco, scheduled to start in August.

Peruvian state-owned petroleum firm Petroperu is planning to sign a contract with Spain-based engineering company Tecnicas Reunidas to expand the Talara refinery.

The contract, which is expected to be signed in April 2014, will allow to commence work on a $3.5bn refinery upgrade.

The Talara refinery is located in northern Peru and the expansion project intends to increase the facility's output by 50% to about 96,000 barrels per day.

Commodities and mining giant Glencore Xstrata Plc is close to reaching a deal on the sale of its Las Bambas Peruvian copper project to a Chinese consortium led by China Minmetals Corp for more than $5 billion.

The management of both Glencore and state-controlled China Minmetals met yesterday for a final meeting in London to sign an agreement, The Wall Street Journal yesterday reported.

Contract workers at Uchucchacua, a Peruvian silver mine, have ended a strike that began last week, the mine's owner Buenaventura said on Monday.

Operations resumed on Sunday after unions at Uchucchacua concluded the stoppage that begun on March 11, Buenaventura said.

Peru's Congress on Monday voted to ratify President Ollanta Humala's new cabinet, averting a crisis that could have hurt investor confidence in the economy.

Lawmakers had on Friday refused to ratify the 19-member cabinet appointed by Mr. Humala, as some members of Congress complained that first lady Nadine Heredia has taken on too large of a role in affairs of state and put up road blocks for the president in protest.

On Monday however Congress approved the cabinet with 66 votes in favor, 52 against and with nine abstentions.

Peru is planning to strenght its presence in the Asia-Pacific region through new prospective missions and opening of embassies, Peruvian Deputy Foreign Minister, Fernando Rojas said Monday.  

Max Tomlinson, author of "Sendero" (awarded by Kirkus Reviews as the Best of 2012) is back with a new action thriller novel "Lethal Dispatch".

Although listed in the Young Adult category, "Lethal Dispatch" will entertain adult readers who enjoy international mystery thrillers. The story not only entertains, it gives readers a peek into the political and social turmoil in Latin American countries particularly in Peru and Argentina.

Through the eyes of his young female teen protagonist who has seen her share of pain and death, Tomlinson's writing adeptly guides the reader through the story weaving in teen angst while subtly revealing socio-cultural and political aspects of the region. He does this like a seasoned pro, spinning his tale in the style of an action suspense thriller.