Sharenet Sites 
Sharenet Sites
BIL - BHP Billiton Plc - Initial work approved for Port Hedland Outer Harbour Development 31 December 2011 BHP Billiton Plc Share code: BIL ISIN: GB0000566504 NEWS RELEASE Release IMMEDIATE Time Date 2 February 2012 Number 04/12 INITIAL WORK APPROVED FOR PORT HEDLAND OUTER HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT BHP Billiton today announced approval of US$917 million (BHP Billiton share US$779 million)(1) in pre-commitment funding for the construction of a 100 million tonne per year outer harbour facility associated with its Western Australia Iron Ore operations. The project, which is expected to be reviewed for full approval in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2012, has an embedded option to expand by a further 100 million tonnes per year. The funds approved today will enable the Company to progress feasibility studies and the procurement of long lead time items. It will also allow for dredging to begin, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals. In parallel with this work, engineering studies are underway to match mine and rail expansions to the expanded port capacity. The first phase of the Outer Harbour Development would include the proposed construction of a four kilometre jetty, a four-berth wharf, 32 kilometres of dredged departure channel and landside infrastructure, including stockyards and a rail spur. Start-up would be in the first half of calendar year 2016. BHP Billiton President Iron Ore, Ian Ashby, said: "This investment is an important first step in providing the infrastructure to allow us to fully develop our world class resource base in the Pilbara. The development of the outer harbour is pivotal for our longer term growth objectives and this initial funding is rapidly turning those plans into a reality." Further information on BHP Billiton can be found at: www.bhpbilliton.com. Sponsor: Absa Capital (the investment banking division of Absa Bank Limited, affiliated with Barclays Capital) (1) BHP Billiton`s partners in its Pilbara iron ore operations are: Itochu Minerals & Energy of Australia Pty Ltd, Mitsui-Itochu Iron Pty Ltd and Mitsui Iron Ore Corporation Pty Ltd. Media Relations Investor Relations Australia Australia Samantha Stevens James Agar Tel: +61 3 9609 2898 Tel: +61 3 9609 2222 Mobile: +61 400 693 915 Mobile: +61 467 807 064 email: email: James.Agar@bhpbilliton.com Samantha.Stevens@bhpbilliton.com Andrew Gunn Kelly Quirke Tel: +61 3 9609 3575 Tel: +61 3 9609 2896 Mobile: +61 439 558 454 Mobile: +61 429 966 312 email: Andrew.Gunn@bhpbilliton.com email: Kelly.Quirke@bhpbilliton.com United Kingdom and South Africa Fiona Martin Tel: +61 3 9609 2211 Brendan Harris Mobile: +61 427 777 908 Tel: +44 20 7802 4131 email: Fiona.Martin2@bhpbilliton.com Mobile: +44 7990 527 726 United Kingdom and Americas email: Brendan.Harris@bhpbilliton.com
Ruban Yogarajah Tel: US +1 713 966 2907 or Tara Dines UK +44 20 7802 4033 Tel : +44 20 7802 7113 Mobile: UK +44 7827 082 022 Mobile : +44 7825 342 232 email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com Email : Tara.Dines@bhpbilliton.com Americas
Scott Espenshade 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 Registered in Australia number 3196209 Registered Office: 180 Lonsdale Street Registered in England and Wales Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia Registered Office: Neathouse Place Tel +61 1300 55 4757 London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom 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 Date: 02/02/2012 07:05:37 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited (`JSE`). The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on, information disseminated through SENS.
