Southern Peru exec appointed to gov’t post

Hans Flury, director of Southern Peru Copper, has become the country’s minister of energy and mines. He replaces Jaime Quijandria, who had held the office for two years.

Flury, a corporate lawyer, is also vice-president of the National Mining, Petroleum and Energy Society, and of Confiep, a national federation of private businesses. He is an advocate of a free-market economy, and supports the privatization of state-run companies.

Although he has been more active in mining than in oil and gas, Flury is a known supporter of the ambitious Camisea natural gas project.

Quijandria was appointed minister of economy and finance, replacing Javier Silva Ruete, who is now president of Peru’s National Reserve Bank.