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
July 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
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NEWS RELEASE Release Time IMMEDIATE Date 18 July 2012 Number 16/12 BHP BILLITON EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2012 This report covers the Group’s exploration and development activities for the June 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 proven strategy to invest in large, long life, low cost, expandable, upstream assets, diversified by commodity, geography and market ensures we are well positioned to maintain strong momentum and returns in our major businesses, despite significant volatility in the external environment. In the 2012 financial year, six major projects delivered first production while a total investment commitment of US$7.5 billion (BHP Billiton share) enabled another eight major projects to move into execution. In addition, US$2.7 billion (BHP Billiton share) of pre-commitment funding was approved to further progress a series of development options. The six projects to deliver first production included: Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) Rapid Growth Project 5 (iron ore); Antamina Expansion and Escondida Ore Access (both copper); Worsley Efficiency & Growth (alumina); North West Shelf CWLH Life Extension (oil); and the RX1 Project (energy coal). The Antamina Expansion, Escondida Ore Access and RX1 projects will not be reported in future Exploration and Development Reports. The eight projects that moved into execution span the ferrous, non-ferrous and energy product groups and included: WAIO Orebody 24 (iron ore); Caval Ridge and Appin Area 9 (both metallurgical coal); Escondida Organic Growth Project 1 and Escondida Oxide Leach Area Project (both copper); North West Shelf Greater Western Flank-A (LNG); Cerrejon P40 Project and the Newcastle Third Port Project Stage 3 (both energy coal). During the June 2012 quarter, BHP Billiton announced approval of the Illawarra Coal Appin Area 9 project and pre-commitment funding of US$708 million (BHP Billiton share) for the Mad Dog Phase 2 project in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (oil and gas). BHP Billiton’s Onshore US drilling and development expenditure totalled US$3.3 billion in the 2012 financial year.
Project and Share of Initial Production capacity Quarterly ownership approved production (100%) progress capex (US$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 71% complete. 71.43% Gas Bass Strait Kipper 900 CY12(a) 10,000 bpd condensate On revised schedule and budget. The (Australia) and processing capacity overall project is 97% 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 79% 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 94% 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 15% complete. Flank-A West Shelf operations. (Australia) 16.67% LNG Minerals projects Antamina Expansion 435 Q1 CY12 Increases ore processing First production was achieved in Q1 (Peru) capacity to 130,000 tpd. CY12. The overall project is 92% 33.75% complete. Copper Escondida Ore Access 319 Q2 CY12 The relocation of the First production was achieved in Q2 (Chile) in-pit crushing and CY12. The overall project is 95% 57.5% conveyor infrastructure complete. Copper provides access to higher grade ore. Escondida Organic 2,207 H1 CY15 Replaces the Los On schedule and budget. The overall Growth Project 1 Colorados concentrator project is 13% complete. (Chile) with a new 152,000 tpd 57.5% plant. Copper Escondida Oxide Leach 414 H1 CY14 New dynamic leaching On schedule and budget. The overall Area Project pad and mineral handling project is 8% complete. (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 26% complete. (Canada) Misery open pit which 80% was mined from 2001 to Diamonds 2005. BHP Billiton Exploration and Development Report for the year ended 30 June 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 34% 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 59% 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 22% 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 20% 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 43% 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 56% 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 74% 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 45% 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 37% 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 year ended 30 June 2012 3
Project and Share of Initial Production capacity Quarterly ownership approved production (100%) progress capex (US$m) target date Appin Area 9 845(c) CY16 Maintains Illawarra Coal’s Approval announced. See News (Australia) production capacity with a Release dated 22 June 2012. 100% replacement mining Metallurgical Coal domain and capacity to produce 3.5 million tpa of metallurgical coal. RX1 Project 400 H2 CY12 Increases run-of-mine First production was achieved in Q2 (Australia) thermal coal production CY12, significantly ahead of schedule 100% by approximately and on budget. The overall project is Energy Coal 4 million tpa. 85% complete. Cerrejon P40 Project 437 CY13 Increases saleable On schedule and budget. The overall (Colombia) thermal coal production project is 35% 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 43% 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. Minerals exploration expenditure for the 2012 financial year was US$1.1 billion, of which US$0.9 billion was expensed. Petroleum exploration Exploration and appraisal wells drilled during the quarter or in the process of drilling as at 30 June 2012. Well Location BHP Billiton equity Status Gunflint-3 Gulf of Mexico 11.2% Drilling ahead MC948 (Noble operator) Ness Deep Gulf of Mexico 50% Drilling ahead GC507 (Operator) Julong East Brunei 22.5% Plugged and abandoned Block CA-01 (Total operator) Hydrocarbons encountered Jagus East Brunei 22.5% Plugged and abandoned Block CA-01 (Total operator) Under evaluation Tallaganda-1 Offshore Western Australia 55% Plugged and abandoned WA-351-P (Operator) Hydrocarbons encountered Banambu Deep Offshore Western Australia 40% Abandonment operations in WA-389-P (Woodside operator) progress Dry hole BHP Billiton Exploration and Development Report for the year ended 30 June 2012 4
Petroleum exploration expenditure for the 2012 financial year was US$1.4 billion, of which US$0.7 billion was expensed. This included US$0.4 billion of exploration expenditure in our recently acquired Onshore US business. Permian Basin appraisal activities for the June 2012 quarter included the successful completion and testing of seven wells with commercial rates. Further success in the Permian Basin is expected to lead to an increase in development expenditure and an associated reduction in exploration expenditure. (a) Facilities ready for first production pending resolution of mercury content. (b) Excludes announced pre-commitment funding. (c) Approximately 50 per cent of the US$845 million investment will be capitalised. The 2012 financial year development and exploration expenditures are subject to finalisation. 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 Tel: +44 20 7802 4131 Mobile: +44 7990 527 726 United Kingdom email: Brendan.Harris@bhpbilliton.com Ruban Yogarajah Tara Dines Tel: +44 20 7802 4033 Mobile: +44 7827 082 022 Tel: +44 20 7802 7113 Mobile: +44 7825 342 232 email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com Email: Tara.Dines@bhpbilliton.com Deirdra McCracken Americas Tel: +44 20 7802 7462 Mobile: +44 7827 253 764 Email: Deirdra.S.McCracken@bhpbilliton.com Scott Espenshade Tel: +1 713 599 6431 Mobile: +1 713 208 8565 Americas email: Scott.Espenshade@bhpbilliton.com Jaryl Strong Tel: +1 713 499 5548 Mobile: +1 281 222 6627 email: Jaryl.Strong@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 year ended 30 June 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: July 18, 2012 | By: | /s/ Jane McAloon | ||||
| Name: | Jane McAloon | |||||
| Title: | Group Company Secretary | |||||