According to Mining News Pro - In a letter dated April 14 to Mopani’s chief executive Nathan Bullock, Mining Licensing Committee secretary Michael Chibonga said Mopani did not give sufficient notice to the government before placing the mines on care and maintenance.

Mopani also breached Zambia’s labour laws by sending its workers on forced leave and terminating the contracts of mining services and supplies, Chibonga said in the letter seen by Reuters.

“In view of the above, the Mining Licensing Committee intends to revoke the large-scale mining licences,” the letter said, referring to Mopani’s Nkana and Mufulira mines.

Glencore has been given seven days to explain why its licences should not be revoked.

A Mopani spokesman told Reuters that Glencore was currently in discussions with the government on the way forward.

Mopani shuttered its mining operations on April 8 but continued to process material it has on site in its smelter and refinery until further notice, the company said in a statement.

The mining company had cited the impacts of a rapid decline in the copper price, critical disruptions to international mobility, transportation and supply chains arising from covid-19.

The shutdown is the latest disruption to the global mining sector from the covid-19 pandemic, which has caused lockdowns and travel restrictions around the world.