Zambia’s mining regulator said on Monday that underground operations at Mopani Copper Mines’ Mufulira mine could resume immediately, after new safety measures were implemented.
The Minerals Regulation Commission had said last week it had suspended operations at the mine after it failed to comply with safety regulations, specifically the requirement to maintain an accurate system to account for all its underground workers.
Mopani Copper Mines is one of the biggest copper miners in Zambia, Africa’s second-largest producer of the metal vital for clean energy technologies.
Safe working environment
In its statement on Monday, the regulator said enhanced safety measures implemented by the company included technology to check the mine had been cleared two hours after the end of every shift, adding that Mopani had also installed closed-circuit TV to monitor activity.
“These measures meet the requirements of Mining Regulation 218, ensuring a safe working environment for miners,” it said.
A Mopani spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
United Arab Emirates-based International Resources Holding acquired 51% of Mopani in 2024 in a deal worth $1.1 billion. The balance is owned by Zambia’s state mining company ZCCM Investments Holdings.
The Southern African country produced about 890,000 metric tons of copper last year and is targeting output of 3 million tons annually by 2031.
(By Chris Mfula and Sfundo Parakozov; Editing by Alexander Winning and David Holmes)
