LIMA, June 3 (Reuters) -

Peru's Energy and Mines Minister Jorge Montero expects

mining investment in the world's third-largest copper producer

to reach $4.8 billion this year, and output of the red metal to

be 2.8 million metric tons, he said on Tuesday.

Peru in 2024 produced about 2.7 million tons of copper,

lightly less than the prior year.

Speaking at a press conference, Montero also noted a

concerning increase of informal and illegal mining in two key

copper production areas, referring to the Apurimac and Arequipa

regions of southern Peru.

Top copper mine Las Bambas, controlled by miner , is located in Apruimac, while Canadian miner Teck

is developing the Zafranal copper project in Arequipa

in partnership with Mitsubishi Materials ( MIMTF ).

The

rise of artisanal copper mining

has created a much-needed income for impoverished Andean

Peruvians, despite bringing them into conflict with major

miners.

Peru's north, meanwhile, has been grappling with an

increase of illegal gold mining activity, including the recent

killing of 13 mine workers.