Zimbabwe mining industry backs platinum refinery -official

CAPE TOWN, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's mining industry is in favour of a government proposal to build a new platinum refinery by 2016, a senior mining official said on Monday.

"We are at one with the government on this issue... it is the how and the means that differ," said Alex Mhembere, president of Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines at a meeting on the sidelines of an African mining conference in Cape Town.

Mhembere, also the chief executive officer of Impala Platinum unit Zimplats ZIM.AX , said the industry was nearing the 500,000 ounces of annual output needed to make such a refinery viable.

(Reporting by Wendell Roelf; editing by David Dolan)

((wendell.roelf@thomsonreuters.com)(+27 82 893 6088))

Keywords: ZIMBABWE REFINERY/