South Africa's second-largest platinum miner Impala had agreed to spend $800 000 in two years on platinum-nickel project generation in Southern Africa as part of an alliance with Australian explorer Impact Minerals Limited, the Australian Stock Exchange-listed Impact said on Tuesday.

The Australian company said in the release that "some" of the Southern African countries included in the alliance's focus were Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Madagascar and Malawi, but made no reference to troubled Zimbabwe, where Impala remains intensely active.

Impact said that the alliance was designed to allow South Africa's Impala to expand its platinum output and for Australia's Impact to gain exposure to Southern Africa's nickel.

Impala would, in terms of the agreement, spend $800 000 on project generation in the next two years.

Impala could then earn 50% of any project selected for development by free-carrying Impact for the first $2-million of project expenditure. Impala had to spend $1-million before being able to withdraw from a project, Impact said.

Impact described the alliance as its "most significant development" since listing on the ASX in November 2006.

"Nickel is a natural by-product credit from platinum production and Impala is looking to increase its production of both these metals," said Impact MD Mike Jones.

Any projects not meeting Impala's requirements would revert 100% to Impact, Jones added, saying that the alliance commenced immediately with Impala having first right to earn equity in any projects identified.

Impact last year announced its first foray into Africa's resources sector, applying for prospecting licences in Botswana and appointing former Falconbridge group director, John Blaine, as Africa COO.

Blaine would now manage the alliance, which would base itself in Pretoria.

Impala, Impact said, currently produced 7 000 t of nickel a year.