Mining Magazine is making some of its most important coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic freely available to readers. For more coverage, please see our COVID-19 hub. To subscribe to Mining Magazine, click here.

The miner, which is 73.1% owned by Glencore, has shuttered its assets on April 8. Smelter and refinery material continue to be processed.

Officials told Reuters the company has been impacted by a sharp drop in copper prices in addition to virus concerns, and stoppages in international transport and supply chains has also played a role.

Mopani did not indicate any timeline for reopening, nor did it indicate which specific projects would be suspended at the mines in its portfolio. However, Zambia's mine minister reportedly told the news service the idle would extend for three months.

Company executives also told Reuters it is working with the country's government and workers' unions to ensure its workforce commitments. Some, it said, will receive additional ex gratia payments, and health insurance for its payroll will remain intact.