The workers agreed on a compromise with management over compensation for working in isolation for two months due to the covid-19 pandemic.

The mine reopened in April and had been operating at around 50% capacity.

The Black Cube operation represents the latest escalation in a bitter fight between Vale and billionaire Beny Steinmetz.

CEO Mark Cutifani previously said the company had already received interest from potential buyers both inside and outside of South Africa.

In 2019 Tenke Fungurume produced 177,956 tonnes of copper and 16,098 tonnes of cobalt.

The company donated 10 computers to the University of Zambia School of Mines and agreed to help repair the Kakayindu Police Post.