LIMA, June 16 (Reuters) - Peru's central bank on Friday said that it forecasts mining investment in the Andean country to fall 18.9% this year, during a quarterly presentation.

The president of the bank, Julio Verlade, said that the shortfall was due to a series of pending projects that were not going to materialize as planned.

The bank also cut its economic growth projections for the year to 2.2% for 2.6%.

Peru is battling ongoing political uncertainty, following the ousting of the former president at the end of last year and subsequent protests around the nation, which prompted blockades and a drop in tourism. (Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Isabel Woodford Editing by Alistair Bell)