Mopani Copper Mines in Zambia has suspended operations at one of its shafts in Kitwe, more than 350 kilometres north of the capital Lusaka, following an accident that resulted in the death of a worker, the company announced on Tuesday.
“The incident happened at (the) 3360 feet level as a team of contractor employees were allegedly loading sludge into a stationary underground rail wagon. One contractor employee sustained fatal injuries in the process,” It said in a statement that the circumstances of the accident were still unknown.
According to the company, operations at the South Ore Body Shaft have been halted while government authorities conduct investigations.
Mopani mine, Nkana, located about 1 km south-west of Kitwe, is one of the largest on the continent. The Nkana mine, which has been in operation since 1932, has produced 6,000,000 tonnes of copper ore.