Impala Platinum (Implats) is being called on to help Zimbabwe's economy, since president Robert Mugabe believes platinum is the key to reviving it.

Since the platinum miner controls most of Zimbabwe's mines it is likely to be the key target and could be made to sell assets at a particularly low price.

The government is now trying to boost revenue from platinum following Mr Mugabe's past actions where he seized most of the white-owned commercial farms and in turn cut cash crop production.

Speaking at a banking lunch in Cape town, central bank governor, Gideon Gono, said: "To Zimbabwe, platinum is what oil is to Saudi Arabia. We are saying to current players, either increase your throughput or allow others to come in and mine."

Mr Mugabe has turned to China to help in his bid to use platinum to boost the economy, following Implats' R5 billion expansion programme being put on hold in February.

"Zimbabwe is known for its rich platinum reserves, and I know that there are some Chinese companies looking at mines there," Bian Gang, the director of international co-operation at the China Non-ferrous Metals Industry Association, explained.

Implats is now said to be concerned about government proposals that could mean it would need to sell assets to black investors and keep foreign currency earnings in Zimbabwe.

Implats currently holds an 84 per cent share in Zimbabwe Platinum Mines and is depending on Zimbabwe for growth since its holdings there stand at around 187 million ounces of platinum.

However the firm has revealed it will not expand in the area until the issue of possible forced asset sales are resolved with the government.