Zambia briefly detains boss of copper firm

By Kennedy Gondwe 

The authorities in Zambia have detained and released the head of Mopani Mines - the local unit of global mining giant Glencore - as he attempted to leave the country.

Nathan Bullock, an Australian national, was detained at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in the capital, Lusaka, on Wednesday night en route to Australia to join his family.

A statement from Glencore confirmed the detention.

It is not clear on what charges Mr Bullock was detained.

The company has placed its operations in Zambia "under care and maintenance" for three months and sent more than 11,000 workers on leave during which they will continue being paid.

However, it has said it is reviewing its business because of lower copper prices and the unprecedented impact caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The government disagrees with the move, saying the decision to suspend operations was illegal.

The state argues the company is using Covid-19 as a scapegoat and has threatened to cancel the company’s licence.

Zambia is Africa's largest exporter of copper, which funds a significant part of its budget.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: Bloomberg