Impala Platinum (Implats) could be looking at a possible move for a fellow-African platinum exploration firm, according to a report.

Miningmx.com says that some industry watchers believe the company could be thinking about a bid for African Platinum (Afplats), although the suggestion has been denied by both firms.

Implats has been in talks with Afplats over the possibility of toll-smelting the platinum concentrates produced by Afplats once it begins its mining operations.

According to the mining website, when asked about a possible takeover from Implats, the Afplats chief executive Roy Pitchford dismissed the rumours, adding: "I wish".

"We have to negotiate an off-take agreement for our concentrates. Impala is one of a number of bidders for our material," he said.

"As part of that process Impala is doing a due-diligence study on Afplats to see for themselves if the project is going to fly and also to satisfy themselves on the properties of the concentrates."

Implats owns the Zimbabwean mining company Zimplats, but expanding operations in Zimbabwe may prove difficult in the light of government proposals to take a majority share hold in foreign-owned mines.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd