First Quantum says two contractors died in Zambia

Reuters | November 27, 2023 | 

Kansanshi, one of the largest copper mines in Zambia. (Reference image by mwmbwls, Flickr.)

Canada’s First Quantum Minerals said on Monday two people died at its Zambian operations last week.


The miner said a worker from its contracting partner, Reliant Drilling, died at First Quantum’s Kansanshi operations following a fall of ground due to an underground dewatering decline on Thursday.
In a separate incident on Friday, a contractor was killed in a light-vehicle accident at Sentinel mine, First Quantum added.

First Quantum has been facing massive protests since the Panama government signed a new contract for the company’s Cobre Panama mine, amid allegations of corruption and lack of transparency in the negotiations.

The company has denied any wrongdoing.

(By Arunima Kumar; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)