* Discussions continuing with potential lenders * Conditions favourable for nickel operations (Adds details, changes dateline) HARARE, Sept 15 (Reuters) - African miner Mwana Africa Plc (MWA.L: Quote) said on Tuesday its Zimbabwean gold mine was on course to restart production this month, and that improved conditions in the country favoured resumption of its nickel operations. Mwana Africa said it had completed refurbishment of its Freda Rebecca gold mine, north-east of the capital Harare. It was also considering reopening its majority-owned unit Bindura Nickel Corp's nickel mines, which were mothballed last November, due to revival in world prices. The company said in a statement that talks with lenders to increase gold production to 50,000 ounces a year from 30,000 ounces were continuing. "Many of the changes in the economic environment in Zimbabwe, which prompted the decision to resume the refurbishment of the Freda Rebecca gold mines, will have a similarly positive impact on operations at BNC," Mwana said.Kalaa Mpinga, Mwana's chief executive told Reuters in a telephone interview that Zimbabwe's economic environment had improved since President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai set up a power-sharing government in February. He said the mining industry was making progress in consultations with the government over proposed empowerment "Zimbabwe has moved from one of the most difficult economies to operate in in the world, to the most liberal economy in SADC (Southern African Development Community) within 6 months," Mpinga said. "We believe in empowerment, but it has to be done in a manner conducive to investment. If somebody has a project and you ask them to take 100 percent of the risk, you cannot ask them to take only 49 percent of the profit."

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