Leading platinum producer Anglo Platinum has announced the suspension of operations at its Polokwane smelter.

The site will close down for six weeks to enable essential repairs to be carried out on the smelter's cooling system.

Anglo Platinum said that the move would not impact on production, as it would be switching capacity elsewhere.

"Concentrate currently being sent to the Polokwane smelter will be transported to the Waterval smelter in Rustenburg for processing," the company said in a statement.

"Anglo Platinum's 2004 production profile and volumes are unlikely to be affected due to its existing excess smelter capacity."

The Polokwane smelter was only operating at 50 per cent capacity before the shut down.