UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
April 18, 2012
| BHP BILLITON LIMITED (ABN 49 004 028 077) (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA (Jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation)
180 LONSDALE STREET, MELBOURNE, VICTORIA 3000 AUSTRALIA (Address of principal executive offices) |
BHP BILLITON PLC (REG. NO. 3196209) (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
ENGLAND AND WALES (Jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation)
NEATHOUSE PLACE, VICTORIA, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (Address of principal executive offices) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F: x Form 20-F ¨ Form 40-F
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ¨
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 x No
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NEWS RELEASE Release Time IMMEDIATE Date 18 April 2012 Number 11/12 BHP BILLITON EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 31 MARCH 2012 This report covers the Group’s exploration and development activities for the March 2012 quarter. Unless otherwise stated, BHP Billiton’s interest in the projects referred to in this report is 100 per cent and references to project schedules are based on calendar years. Development BHP Billiton’s commitment to developing its portfolio of high return growth projects, diversified by commodity, geography and market was further reinforced by the approval of additional investment in its world class Base Metals, Iron Ore and Petroleum businesses. During the March 2012 quarter, BHP Billiton announced approval of the US$2.2 billion (BHP Billiton share) Escondida Organic Growth Project 1 (OGP1) which involves the replacement of an existing concentrator and allows access to valuable, higher grade ore. BHP Billiton also approved the US$414 million (BHP Billiton share) Escondida Oxide Leach Area Project (OLAP). In addition, pre-commitment expenditure of US$779 million (BHP Billiton share) for the proposed Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) Outer Harbour development was approved. This funding will enable feasibility studies to progress, the procurement of long lead time items and for dredging to begin, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals. On 11 April 2012, BHP Billiton also approved pre-commitment funding of US$708 million (BHP Billiton share) for the Mad Dog Phase 2 project in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico which will facilitate detailed engineering and the procurement of long lead time items related to the hull, topsides and subsea equipment. The Worsley Efficiency & Growth project will no longer be reported in future Exploration and Development Reports as it achieved first production in the March 2012 quarter and is 98 per cent complete. BHP Billiton’s Onshore US drilling and development expenditure totalled US$2.2 billion for the nine months ended March 2012. Project and Share of Initial Production capacity Quarterly ownership approved production (100%) progress capex (US$m) target date Petroleum projects Macedon 1,050 CY13 200 million cubic feet gas On schedule and budget. The overall (Australia) per day. project is 57% complete. 71.43% Gas
Project and Share of Initial Production capacity Quarterly ownership approved production (100%) progress capex (US$m) target date Bass Strait Kipper 900 CY12(a) 10,000 bpd condensate On revised schedule and budget. The (Australia) and processing capacity overall project is 92% complete. 32.5% - 50% of 80 million cubic feet Gas/Gas Liquids gas per day. Bass Strait Turrum 1,350 CY13 11,000 bpd condensate On revised schedule and budget. The (Australia) and processing capacity overall project is 78% complete. 50% of 200 million cubic feet Gas/Gas Liquids gas per day. North West Shelf North 850 CY13 2,500 million cubic feet On budget. Steady state production Rankin B Gas gas per day. remains on track for CY13. The overall Compression project is 87% complete. (Australia) 16.67% LNG North West Shelf 400 CY16 To maintain LNG plant On schedule and budget. The overall Greater Western throughput from the North project is 9% complete. Flank-A West Shelf operations. (Australia) 16.67% LNG Minerals projects Worsley Efficiency & 2,995 Q1 CY12 1.1 million tpa of First production was achieved in Q1 Growth additional alumina. CY12 and ramp up is underway. The (Australia) overall project is 98% complete. 86% Alumina Antamina Expansion 435 Q1 CY12 Increases ore processing Commissioning of the SAG mill and (Peru) capacity to 130,000 tpd. first production was achieved in Q1 33.75% CY12. The overall project is 90% Copper complete. Escondida Ore Access 319 Q2 CY12 The relocation of the On schedule and budget. The overall (Chile) in-pit crushing and project is 85% complete. 57.5% conveyor infrastructure Copper provides access to higher grade ore. Escondida Organic 2,207 H1 CY15 Replaces the Los Approval announced. See News Growth Project 1 Colorados concentrator Release dated 14 February 2012. (Chile) with a new 152,000 tpd 57.5% plant. Copper Escondida Oxide Leach 414 H1 CY14 New dynamic leaching Approval announced. See News Area Project pad and mineral handling Release dated 14 February 2012. (Chile) system. Maintains oxide 57.5% leaching capacity. Copper EKATI Misery Open Pit 323 CY15 Project consists of a On schedule and budget. The overall Project pushback of the existing project is 22% complete. (Canada) Misery open pit which 80% was mined from 2001 to Diamonds 2005. BHP Billiton Exploration and Development Report for the quarter ended 31 March 2012 2
Project and Share of Initial Production capacity Quarterly ownership approved production (100%) progress capex (US$m) target date WAIO Jimblebar Mine 3,300(b) Q1 CY14 Increases mining and On schedule and budget. The overall Expansion processing capacity to project is 27% complete. (Australia) 35 million tpa with 96% incremental Iron Ore debottlenecking opportunities to 55 million tpa. WAIO Port Hedland 1,900(b) H2 CY12 Increases total inner On schedule and budget. The overall Inner Harbour harbour capacity to project is 49% complete. Expansion 220 million tpa with (Australia) debottlenecking 85% opportunities to Iron Ore 240 million tpa. WAIO Port Blending 1,400(b) H2 CY14 Optimises resource and On schedule and budget. The overall and Rail Yard Facilities enhances efficiency project is 16% complete. (Australia) across the WAIO supply 85% chain. Iron Ore WAIO Orebody 24 698 H2 CY12 Maintains iron ore On schedule and budget. The overall (Australia) production output from project is 12% complete. 85% the Newman Joint Iron Ore Venture operations. Samarco Fourth Pellet 1,750 H1 CY14 Increases iron ore pellet On schedule and budget. The overall Plant production capacity by project is 30% complete. (Brazil) 8.3 million tpa to 50% 30.5 million tpa. Iron Ore Daunia 800 CY13 Greenfield mine On schedule and budget. The overall (Australia) development with project is 40% complete. 50% capacity to produce Metallurgical Coal 4.5 million tpa of export metallurgical coal. Broadmeadow Life 450 CY13 Increases productive On schedule and budget. The overall Extension capacity by 0.4 million tpa project is 62% complete. (Australia) and extends life of the 50% mine by 21 years. Metallurgical Coal Hay Point Stage Three 1,250(b) CY14 Increases port capacity On schedule and budget. The overall Expansion from 44 million tpa to project is 40% complete. (Australia) 55 million tpa and 50% reduces storm Metallurgical Coal vulnerability. Caval Ridge 2,100(b) CY14 Greenfield mine On schedule and budget. The overall (Australia) development and project is 33% complete. 50% expansion of the Peak Metallurgical Coal Downs Mine with capacity to produce 8.0 million tpa of export metallurgical coal. BHP Billiton Exploration and Development Report for the quarter ended 31 March 2012 3
Project and Share of Initial Production capacity Quarterly ownership approved production (100%) progress capex (US$m) target date RX1 Project 400 H2 CY12 Increases run-of-mine On schedule and budget. The overall (Australia) thermal coal production project is 78% complete. 100% by approximately Energy Coal 4 million tpa. Cerrejon P40 Project 437 CY13 Increases saleable On schedule and budget. The overall (Colombia) thermal coal production project is 21% complete. 33.3% by 8 million tpa to Energy Coal approximately 40 million tpa. Newcastle Third Port 367 CY14 Increases total coal On schedule and budget. The overall Project Stage 3 terminal capacity from project is 21% complete. (Australia) 53 million tpa to 35.5% 66 million tpa. Energy Coal Minerals exploration Greenfield exploration continued on copper targets in South America, nickel and copper targets in Australia, and iron ore and potash in a number of regions globally. For the nine months ended March 2012, BHP Billiton spent US$785 million on minerals exploration, of which US$668 million was expensed. Petroleum exploration Exploration and appraisal wells drilled during the quarter or in the process of drilling as at 31 March 2012. Well Location BHP Billiton equity Status Gunflint-3 Gulf of Mexico 11.2% Drilling ahead MC948 (Noble operator) Julong Centre Brunei 22.5% Plugged and abandoned Block CA-01 (Total operator) Dry hole Julong East Brunei 22.5% Hydrocarbons encountered Block CA-01 (Total operator) Drilling ahead Jujur-1 Sabah Malaysia 60% Plugged and abandoned Block N (Operator) Dry hole N. Scarborough Offshore Western Australia 100% Plugged and abandoned WA-346-P (Operator) Hydrocarbons encountered Tallaganda-1 Offshore Western Australia 55% Hydrocarbons encountered WA-351-P (Operator) Drilling ahead Petroleum exploration expenditure for the nine months ended March 2012 was US$925 million, of which US$409 million was expensed. Our guidance for petroleum exploration expenditure for the 2012 financial year is US$1.4 billion, including the Onshore US exploration program. Onshore US Permian Basin appraisal activities for the March 2012 quarter included the successful completion and testing of six wells with commercial rates. This report, together with the Production Report, represents the Interim Management Statement for the purposes of the UK Listing Authority’s Disclosure and Transparency Rules. There have been no significant changes in the financial position of the Group in the quarter ended 31 March 2012. BHP Billiton Exploration and Development Report for the quarter ended 31 March 2012 4
(a) Facilities ready for first production pending resolution of mercury content. (b) Excludes announced pre-commitment funding. Further information on BHP Billiton can be found at: www.bhpbilliton.com Media Relations Investor Relations Australia Australia Antonios Papaspiropoulos James Agar Tel: +61 3 9609 3830 Mobile: +61 477 325 803 Tel: +61 3 9609 2222 Mobile: +61 467 807 064 email: Antonios.Papaspiropoulos@bhpbilliton.com email: James.Agar@bhpbilliton.com Kelly Quirke Andrew Gunn Tel: +61 3 9609 2896 Mobile: +61 429 966 312 Tel: +61 3 9609 3575 Mobile: +61 439 558 454 email: Kelly.Quirke@bhpbilliton.com email: Andrew.Gunn@bhpbilliton.com Fiona Martin United Kingdom and South Africa Tel: +61 3 9609 2211 Mobile: +61 427 777 908 email: Fiona.Martin2@bhpbilliton.com Brendan Harris United Kingdom Tel: +44 20 7802 4131 Mobile: +44 7990 527 726 email: Brendan.Harris@bhpbilliton.com Ruban Yogarajah Tel: +44 20 7802 4033 Mobile: +44 7827 082 022 Tara Dines email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com Tel: +44 20 7802 7113 Mobile: +44 7825 342 232 Email: Tara.Dines@bhpbilliton.com Americas Americas Jaryl Strong Tel: +1 713 499 5548 Mobile: +1 281 222 6627 Scott Espenshade email: Jaryl.Strong@bhpbilliton.com Tel: +1 713 599 6431 Mobile: +1 713 208 8565 email: Scott.Espenshade@bhpbilliton.com BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 Registered in Australia Registered in England and Wales Registered Office: 180 Lonsdale Street Registered Office: Neathouse Place Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom Tel +61 1300 55 4757 Fax +61 3 9609 3015 Tel +44 20 7802 4000 Fax +44 20 7802 4111 Members of the BHP Billiton Group which is headquartered in Australia BHP Billiton Exploration and Development Report for the quarter ended 31 March 2012 5
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 Limited and BHP Billiton Plc | ||||||
| Date: April 18, 2012 | By: | /s/ Jane McAloon | ||||
| Name: | Jane McAloon | |||||
| Title: | Group Company Secretary | |||||