Peru names energy and mines minister

Peru's new administration named Jaime Galvez as energy and mines minister, completing the cabinet of interim president Francisco Sagasti.

Galvez, who previously served as deputy mining minister, takes over a strategic portfolio battered by the pandemic, social conflicts and political turbulence. He is the sixth minister this year.

Minerals account for close to 60pc of Peru's export revenue, and the country is the world's second-largest copper producer.

Better known for natural gas than crude, Peru is South America's sole LNG exporter.

Block 95, the only block operating the northern jungle, was forced shut in several times this year because of protests. The block is operated by Canadian independent PetroTal, whose export plans have been shelved for now.

The block produced 9,200 b/d of crude in October, compared with national output of 37,800 b/d that month, down from 56,000 b/d a year earlier, according to regulator PeruPetro.

Sagasti's predecessor, Martin Vizcarra, was subject to a controversial impeachment on 9 November. He was succeeded by congressional president Manuel Merino, who was forced to step down after only five days.

By Lucien Chauvin