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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Date of
1 March 2004BHP Billiton Plc
Registration Number 3196209
Neathouse Place
London SW1V 1BH
United Kingdom
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
| Form 20-F | X | Form 40-F |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
| Yes | No | X |
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
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Date |
1 March 2004 |
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Number |
11/04 |
BHP Billiton today announced its intention to enter into the Wheelarra Joint Venture with four of China's leading steel mills. The joint venture will secure the sale to the mills of approximately 12 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of iron ore.
The joint venture will be BHP Billiton's largest ever commercial agreement with Chinese steel mills, with sales of iron ore expected to total US$9 billion over the next 25 years.
The steel mills are:
Wuhan Iron and Steel (Group) Corporation, ("WUGANG")
Maanshan Iron and Steel Company Limited ("MAGANG")
Jiangsu Shagang Group Co Ltd ("SHAGANG")
Tangshan Iron and Steel (Group) Co Ltd ("TANGGANG")
Under the joint venture, the Chinese steel mills will take a 40 percent interest in a sub-lease over BHP Billiton's Jimblebar mine, near Newman in Western Australia. BHP Billiton will retain a 51 percent interest, with Japanese joint venture partners CI Minerals Australia and Mitsui Iron Ore Corporation taking a 4.8 percent and 4.2 percent interest respectively.
BHP Billiton Chief Executive Officer Chip Goodyear said the company was pleased to be part of a unique venture that would see, for the first time, a partnership with a group of Chinese steelmakers to ensure a stable, long-term supply of iron ore to their own operations.
"The Wheelarra Joint Venture will underpin a major export agreement between Australia and China and will cement an ongoing economic partnership between BHP Billiton as a leading supplier of raw materials and China as a major industrial nation," he said.
"We expect the relationship between China and BHP Billiton will provide further opportunities for our other businesses, notably metallurgical coal and manganese."
The Wheelarra Joint Venture agreement is expected to be formalised in Australia soon.
BHP Billiton will immediately begin shipping an additional four to six Mtpa to the Chinese mills, approximately doubling its total sales to these customers in 2004.
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: http://www.bhpbilliton.com
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Australia Tel: +61 3 9609 3952 email: Andrew.W.Nairn@bhpbilliton.com |
United Kingdom Tel: +44 20 7802 4156 email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com |
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Tania Price, Media Relations United States Tel: +1 713 961 8625 Mobile: +1 713 480 3699 email: Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com |
Ariane Gentil, Media Relations South Africa Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations Tel: +27 11 376 3360 Mobile: +27 82 458 2587 email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com |
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BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 Registered Office: Level 27, 180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Telephone +61 1300 554 757 Facsimile +61 3 9609 3015 |
BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom Telephone +44 20 7802 4000 Facsimile +44 20 7802 4111 |
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The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BHP BILLITON
PlcKaren Wood
Title: Company Secretary
Date: