The Minerals Regulation Commission has suspended underground operations at Mopani Copper Mines’ Mufulira Mine Site over safety non-compliance following recent mine accidents.
The decision follows a high-level meeting held on Thursday, 12 February 2026, where a delegation led by the Director General engaged Mopani management to review reported accidents at the Nkana and Mufulira mine sites.
The meeting examined the effectiveness of safety controls intended to prevent dangerous occurrences.
According to the Commission, the Mufulira Mine Site failed to comply with Part 218 of the Mining Regulations, which requires the Mine Manager to establish and maintain a system for accounting for all persons working underground at any given time.
In response to the breach, the regulator invoked Section 56 of the Minerals Regulation Commission Act No. 14 of 2024 and ordered that underground operations remain suspended until all deficiencies in the personnel accounting system are rectified.
The Commission has also resolved to conduct a comprehensive audit of operations at both the Mufulira and Nkana mine sites as a proactive step to strengthen compliance with Safety, Health and Environmental requirements.
By Rachel Mumba
