Copper juniors gravitating towards new area play

From $5 to $4 billion.

40% slump in foreign direct investment in the Asian nation during the first half of the year behind re-think.

Freeport and Newmont will have to process all ore domestically.

Copper price is losing touch with huge supply growth and cost of production.

A few months ago, Peru’s illegal mining exports problem was worse than drug trafficking.

State and federal agencies have spent over three years on the mine's environmental impact statement.

BHP’s growth capital was likely to go towards petroleum, copper and potash over iron ore and specifically coal says CEO Andrew Mackenzie.

Las Bambas' appeal lies on the fact it is expected to produce more than 400,000 tonnes of copper a year when it goes into production towards the end of 2014.

Jiangxi Copper is the third Chinese firm to show interest in Las Bambas.