Three miners from the Tongguan Mine Construction Company have been killed after an underground mine explosion at the $832m South East Ore Body (SEOB) project 400km north-west of Lusaka, Zambia.

Non Ferrous Corporation Africa Mining (NFC Africa) engaged Tongguan Mine to work at the SEOB site.

The explosion occurred 680m underground, where two of the miners were setting up explosives to prepare for blasting, while the other one was drilling the ground.

"The explosion occurred 680m underground, where two of the miners were setting up explosives to prepare for blasting, while the other one was drilling."

Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) general secretary Joseph Chewe told LusakaTimes that a representative has been sent to the place to determine the cause of the accident.

The news website quoted Copperbelt commissioner of police Joyce Kasosa saying: "One is a Chinese national and two are Zambians who resided in Chambishi."

The South East Ore Body is expected to produce 60,000t of copper per year.

In September 2012, Zambia’s environmental management agency allowed NFC Africa to go ahead to with its South East Ore Body Project.

The project is expected to create 5,000 jobs for those living in the local area and is due for commissioning during 2017.