LatinNews Daily - 24 March 2026

*Peru’s President José María Balcázar has appointed Waldir Ayasta as his new energy and mining minister. Ayasta’s predecessor Ángelo Alfaro resigned on 22 March after a woman told Peruvian television channel Willax that he had sexually assaulted her in 2000 when she was 16 years old. Ayasta previously served as deputy electricity minister in 2025 and was in charge of the rural electrification programme from 2024-2025. A statement from the mining and energy ministry (Minem) said that he will focus on “driving new investments to strengthen the mining and energy sectors and continue reducing inequalities in access to energy”. His appointment comes as Minem announced yesterday that mining exports surged by 27.2% in 2025 to total US$62.85bn. The growth in exports was led by gold and copper, with Minem highlighting high international prices, strong global demand, gold’s role as a refuge for investors, as well as high prices for other metals used in manufacturing. Mining products accounted for 61.7% of Peru’s total exports in 2025.