Zambia’s Mines Minister Richard Musukwa has rejected Glencore subsidiary Mopani Copper Mines’ (MCM) proposal to suspend operations due to low copper prices as a result of the interruptions to transportation and supply chains caused by the Covid-19 outbreak.
According to Reuters, Mopani plans to appeal against the decision and said it will continue mining operations based on the appeal process outcome.
The news agency quoted Musukwa as saying: “We are open to dialogue because we want what’s best for the people of Zambia and Mopani is strategic to [our] economic trajectory.”
Operations at the company’s mines were stopped early in April this year because of the pandemic and various other problems.
However, after a month, mining restarted after receiving severe criticism the Zambian government.
