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Zambia’s Minerals Regulation Commission (MRC) has taken decisive action to ensure worker safety, suspending operations at Mopani Copper Mines’ Mufulira mine after the company failed to account for all underground personnel.
The Mining regulator said in a statement on 13 February 2026 that the decision follows recent accidents at Mopani’s operations and non-compliance with regulations requiring a system to track all people working underground at any given time. “Operations will remain suspended until the mine rectifies all deficiencies identified in its personnel accounting system,” noted the commission.
The MRC added that it will conduct a comprehensive audit of all Mopani assets including the larger Nkana mine, to ensure full compliance across the company’s operations.Mopani Copper Mines did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company is one of Zambia’s largest copper producers, with copper considered a key metal for the global clean energy transition.
The United Arab Emirates’ International Resources Holding (IRH) acquired 51% of Mopani in 2024 in a $1.1 billion deal, while Zambia’s state mining company, ZCCM Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH), retains the balance. IRH has plans to invest $300 million to raise Mopani’s annual copper output to about 200,000 metric tons from around 70,000 metric tons currently.
Zambia’s copper production reached 820,670 metric tons in 2025, up from 732,580 tons the previous year, as the country targets a bold expansion to 3 million metric tons annually by 2031. While Mopani works to address compliance and safety gaps, the regulator’s intervention highlights the balance between rapid sector growth and the uncompromising need for safety and governance in Africa’s mining industry.
