News: ZIM South Africa's Implats says Q3 output boosted by Zimbabwe

JOHANNESBURG, April 26 (Reuters) - South Africa's Impala Platinum IMPJ.J posted a 17 percent rise in production in the quarter to the end of March thanks to a 71 percent rise in output at its Zimbabwe unit Zimplats (ZIM) , the company said on Tuesday.

Despite a fire at its Rustenburg operation, Implats' output was steady at 142,000 ounces compared to 143,000 ounces in the same period last year.

But the tonnage milled declined to 2 million tonnes from 2.5 million tonnes the year before and so production at Rustenburg will likely decline this quarter.

At Zimplats, the start of an open-pit operation has helped to compensate for the loss of production at the Bimha mine, which is being redeveloped because of concerns about the stability of its ground and tunnels.

Implats said it expected to produce 1.42 million refined platinum ounces compared to 1.276 million ounces last year.