Anglo Platinum says it is awaiting government approval for the final green light ahead of the start of its US$10 million Unki Platinum Project.

The corporation says it has already submitted papers to the Ministry of Mines, with confirmation expected in the next few weeks.

Stuart Marchant, the senior project manager, told the Zimbabwe Independent: "We are in negotiations with the government and the Ministry of Mines with regards to the Unki Platinum Project and we anticipate to have it approved in a week's time."

The Unki Platinum Mine is due to start production in 2007, with an annual output of 60,000 tonnes of platinum.

Eventually that could rise by 20 per cent to as much as 106,000 tonnes of ore.

The project is also set to include an empowerment stake of 20 per cent, with local indigenous people expected to take up the share.