Chinese, US firms line up for Peru copper projects as government cuts red tape ↧ ↧ Chinese, US firms line up for Peru copper projects as government c... Peru expects to ​boost annual copper production by about 1 million metric tons within 5 to 6 years through new mining projects, ‌as Chinese and US companies weigh investments amid broader competition for critical minerals in South America, Peru's Energy and Mines Minister told Reuters.