By Matthew Hill  Feb 21, 2014

Konkola Copper Mines Plc, the Vedanta Resources Plc (VED) Zambian unit, temporarily stopped production at its biggest mine after seven workers were injured.

One worker is in critical condition after a cage malfunctioned at the Konkola Deep Mining Project, Shapi Shacinda, a spokesman for KCM, said today in an e-mailed statement. The company’s other mines in Zambia are still operating, as well as its smelter and refinery, he said by phone.

“Production has been temporarily suspended and investigations commenced to determine the cause of the incident,” Shacinda said in the statement.

Zambia is Africa’s biggest producer of copper, which accounts for about 70 percent of the country’s export earnings. The kwacha retreated 1.4 percent to 5.7822 versus the dollar, heading for the lowest close on record.

Read more here — http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-21/vedanta-s-zambian-unit-halts-output-at-mine-after-seven-injured.html

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