LUSAKA, Zambia — Zambia’s Minerals Regulation Commission has suspended operations at Mopani Copper Mines’ Mufulira underground mine following a fatal accident, according to regulatory documents reviewed by Skillings Mining Review.
The commission cited noncompliance with statutory requirements for accounting for personnel underground. The suspension was issued Feb. 14 and was later lifted after the operator implemented corrective measures, the documents show.
The order halted underground operations at Mufulira, one of two major Mopani mining complexes in Zambia’s Copperbelt. Surface activities and operations at Mopani’s larger Nkana complex continued during the suspension period.
The commission said Mopani failed to meet Section 98 of the Mines and Minerals Development Act, which requires mines to maintain systems capable of accounting for all personnel working underground at any time.
“The suspension order was issued to protect worker safety and ensure compliance with statutory requirements,” a commission spokesperson said in a statement. “Operations were not permitted to resume until all identified deficiencies in the personnel accounting system were rectified.”
Mopani moved to upgrade its underground tracking and personnel management procedures to meet the commission’s requirements. The suspension was lifted about 48 hours after it was imposed, according to the documents.
International Resources Holding, a United Arab Emirates-based company, acquired a 51% stake in Mopani for $1.1 billion in 2024. ZCCM Investments Holdings, Zambia’s state mining investment company, holds the remaining 49%.
Mopani is among Zambia’s largest copper producers, with annual output of about 70,000 metric tons. IRH has said it is targeting expansion to 200,000 metric tons a year through capital investment across Mopani’s assets.
The commission has said it plans broader audits of Mopani operations, including the Nkana complex, as part of stepped-up enforcement on safety compliance across major mines.
Source: Skillings Mining Review (Data as of February 16, 2026).
