Zimbabwe Platinum Mines (Zimplats) says it will pursue a strategy of "aggressive growth" in the coming months.

The country's largest platinum producer is planning to work in consort with the Zimbabwe government in order to ramp up production in the long term.

Zimplats chief executive Mike Houston told New Ziana that the firm was seeking a period of accelerated growth, but stressed the need for state support.

"Mining on the scale we are talking about requires, more than any other industry, tight partnership with Government. This will ensure a good long-term relationship with the Government and people of Zimbabwe," he commented.

"Investment to develop the industry is considerable and requires huge amounts of foreign currency. For this reason, availability is a function of the fiscal regime and the macro-policies that are, and will be in existence at the time," he added.

The company is expecting to produce 180,000 ounces of platinum this year, an increase from the 169,000-ounce output in 2003.

"The difference (increase in output) is largely due to the fact that the company was still ramping up production," he concluded.