Zimbabwean Platinum Mines announced today (August 8th) that a furnace closed due to fire damages in Mid-July is now operational again.

A statement from the company said: 'Zimplats is pleased to report the damage was not as serious as first anticipated and the furnace was re-activated on August 6.'

The first smelter production following the re-activation is expected during the theird week of this month.

Zimplats, which is currently the subject of a takeover move from world platinum number two Impala Platinum, holds about 165 million ounces of platinum resources in Zimbabwe's Great Dyke, the largest known near-surface undeveloped platinum and palladium resource in the world.