The Minerals Regulation Commission (MRC) has suspended operations at four mining and mineral processing operations in Mpika District, Muchinga Province, following a regulatory compliance inspection conducted in the Kanyerere area.
The operations affected are Newtown Youth Advocate Mine, Empirical Trading, Jatana Mineral Resources and Ishinadwusa Processing Company.
Newtown Youth Advocate Mine is owned by Zambians,while Empirical Trading is owned by a Somali investor, Jatana Mineral Resources is operated by a Chinese company and Ishinadsusa Mineral processing Company is operated by Indian nationals.
The enforcement action follows findings by MRC inspectors indicating serious breaches of mining and regulatory requirements, including concerns relating to mine safety, underground mine development and the possession and storage of explosives.
The Commission has also facilitated the arrest of a 31-year-old Indian national who was allegedly found in possession of explosives without the requisite documentation and approved storage arrangements.
During the inspection, MRC inspectors discovered more than 20 boxes of explosives concealed underneath two beds in two separate rooms.
The discovery was made during routine regulatory and compliance inspections of mining operations in and around the Kanyerere area.
The Commission has warned that the unauthorised possession, handling and storage of explosives is a serious regulatory and safety matter that poses a significant risk to workers, surrounding communities and property.
The MRC emphasises that any person or mining operator authorised to handle explosives must comply fully with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, including obtaining the requisite licences and approvals, ensuring that personnel are appropriately trained and storing explosives only in properly constructed and approved explosive magazines.
The Commission has further directed cooperatives holding artisanal mining licences to strictly adhere to the terms and conditions of their licences and ensure that all mining activities are undertaken in accordance with the law.
During an inspection of the Newtown Youth Cooperative mining site, MRC inspectors established that the cooperative had sunk a shaft approximately 60 metres deep, with workers conducting underground mining activities through tunnels.
The Commission has stressed that the sinking, development and operation of underground mines require appropriate technical expertise, engineering controls and adherence to approved safety standards to safeguard workers and ensure the stability of underground workings.
The MRC remains concerned about mining practices that expose workers to avoidable risks and has reiterated that the protection of human life and occupational safety remains a fundamental requirement of responsible mining.
The Commission has therefore issued a firm warning to mining operators, licence holders and other industry stakeholders that non-compliance with mining laws and regulatory requirements will not be tolerated.
The MRC will continue to conduct inspections, monitor compliance and take appropriate enforcement action against mining operations found to be operating outside the law or in breach of prescribed safety, technical and regulatory standards.
The Commission has further called on all mining operators to treat compliance as a fundamental obligation and not merely a regulatory requirement.
Strict adherence to mining laws and safety standards is essential to protecting lives, promoting responsible mineral development, safeguarding communities and supporting the sustainable growth of Zambia’s mining sector.
