MRC LIFTS SUSPENSION ON MOPANI’S MUFULIRA MINE

Home News Home Affairs

Posted by admin on February 17, 2026 at 4:11 AM

Share: Visits: 818

---

The Minerals Regulation Commission (MRC) has lifted the suspension on underground operations at Mopani Copper Mines’ Mufulira mine, following the successful implementation of enhanced safety measures. This development carries significant implications for worker safety, job security, and labour stability in Zambia’s mining sector.

The suspension was initially imposed due to non-compliance with safety requirements, particularly the failure to maintain an accurate personnel accounting system for underground workers.

According to the regulator, Mopani has since introduced a Two-Point Manual Tag Board System, strengthened shift clearance reporting, and upgraded its biometric system to automatically generate clearance reports.

CCTV and real-time monitoring systems have been installed at critical control points, ensuring safer working conditions and compliance with Mining Regulation 218.

The lifting of the suspension allows miners to resume work immediately, safeguarding jobs that were at risk during the shutdown.

For thousands of employees and contractors, the restart means restored wages, continuity of employment, and reduced uncertainty.

Mopani’s compliance demonstrates how labour rights and safety standards are directly tied to job security in high-risk industries like mining.

Zambia has set a target to expand copper production to three million metric tonnes annually by 2031, positioning mining as central to economic growth and job creation.

Ensuring compliance with safety regulations is critical not only for protecting workers but also for sustaining employment across the sector.

The case highlights the role of regulators in balancing production goals with labour welfare, reinforcing that economic growth must not come at the expense of worker safety.