LIMA, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Copper production in Peru was

down 11.7% year-on-year in June, the Andean country's energy and

mines ministry said on Monday, landing at 213,578 metric tons.

Over the first six months of 2021, the country produced 1.29

million tons, the ministry added, down 2.1% from the same period

last year.

Peru is the world's third-largest copper producer, after

recently losing its No. 2 title to Democratic Republic of Congo.

The ministry said it expects this year's output to hit 3.00

million tons, up from 2.76 million last year.

Authorities have been looking to boost the key mining

sector, which was hit by anti-government protests at the start

of last year, when Peru entered a technical recession.

It hopes to benefit from the start up of Tia Maria, a major

copper project from Grupo Mexico-owned Southern

Copper ( SCCO ) that is now expected to kick off production in

2027 after development was stalled for more than a decade due to

opposition from local communities.