LIMA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Southern Copper ( SCCO )

expects its copper production in Peru to hold steady this year

as it invests $800 million in projects, its chief financial

officer told Reuters.

Peru is the world's third-largest copper producer and

Southern Copper Peru, owned by Grupo Mexico, is

the country's second-biggest, producing 414,000 metric tons in

2024.

"This year we're going to produce basically the same amount

in Peru," Southern Copper ( SCCO ) Chief Financial Officer Raul Jacob

said in an interview on Monday. He added that molybdenum and

silver production would also remain steady this year, although

higher prices were expected to boost revenue.

Southern Copper ( SCCO ) produced 13,400 tons of molybdenum and 177.2

tons of silver in 2024.

Jacob said the company, which operates the Toquepala and

Cuajone mines, also planned to move ahead with new projects.

Tia Maria, a $1.8 billion project expected to eventually

produce 120,000 tons of copper annually, could begin production

by the end of 2027 and reach full capacity by 2028, he said.

The project has faced multiple delays due to protests. Tia

Maria employed about 1,900 workers as of September, Jacob said.

Michiquillay, a $2.5 billion project expected to produce

225,000 tons of copper a year with a mine life of 25 years, is

halfway into its exploration phase and targeting a 2032 start

date.

The mine's copper resources are "better than expected,"

Jacob said.

"That's the budget we're working on. Obviously, as we get

closer to the construction stage, we'll be updating it. It might

increase a bit," Jacob said, referring to Michiquillay.

The Los Chancas project, in the Andean region of Apurimac,

is still facing setbacks from protests by illegal miners.

"We prefer that the authorities take action," Jacob said,

adding that they've identified 200 people working illegally

around the concession. "There are illegal miners who have acted

violently. They have burned down our camp twice."

Peru's government has given thousands of small-scale miners

until the end of the year to formalize operations.