Glencore PLC plans to curb production at one of its biggest copper and cobalt mining operations, Mutanda Mining Sarl in Congo, according to people familiar with the matter, potentially taking a sizable portion of two important industrial metals out of circulation.

The company intends to cut about 2,000 workers at Mutanda, mostly contractors, the people said. The cutback in production is likely to be temporary as Glencore explores new copper-mining methods for the mine.