This new contribution to the state will total 15 billion soles in the next five years, said minister Lerner during his presentation before the Peruvian Congress.

"We want to announce today that we have ensured mining companies will make tax payments of approximately 3 billion soles a year," he said.

The minister went on to say that this tax will not affect investment or companies' competitiveness, but facilitate investments in the mining sector worth 30 billion dollars in the next five years.

One of the promises made by Peruvian President Ollanta Humala was to make mining companies pay the state more taxes due to the windfall obtained for the high prices of metals in the international market.

Mining and government sources said earlier this month the two sides had agreed to apply royalties on companies' operating profits, rather than sales.