BHP BILLITON PLC - Sale of interest in Browse Joint Ventures

Sale of interest in Browse Joint Ventures

BHP BILLITON

NEWS RELEASE
Release Time IMMEDIATE
Date            12 December 2012
Number          28/12



BHP BILLITON TO SELL INTEREST IN EAST AND WEST BROWSE JOINT VENTURES


BHP Billiton has signed a definitive agreement with PetroChina International Investment
(Australia) Pty Ltd to sell its 8.33 per cent interest in the East Browse Joint Venture and 20
per cent interest in the West Browse Joint Venture, located offshore Western Australia, for a
cash consideration of US$1.63 billion. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and
other customary conditions. Completion is expected in the first half of calendar year 2013.
BHP Billiton Chief Executive Petroleum, J Michael Yeager, said: “This is an excellent
opportunity for both companies. PetroChina has acquired an interest in a world class gas
resource and BHP Billiton has exited a non-strategic asset.”
The Browse Joint Venture participants hold a right to offer to match the transaction with
respect to BHP Billiton’s interests in the East and West Browse Joint Ventures and have a
customary period to consider whether to make an offer to match.
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found at: www.bhpbilliton.com.


About PetroChina:
PetroChina Company Limited is China’s largest oil and gas producer and distributor, playing
a leading role in the oil and gas industry in that country. It is also one of the largest oil
companies in the world. It is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the Stock Exchange of
Hong Kong Limited and on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.




Sponsor: Absa Capital (the investment banking division of Absa Bank Limited, affiliated with
Barclays)
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

Fiona Hadley                                                        Andrew Gunn
Tel: +61 3 9609 2211 Mobile: +61 427 777 908                        Tel: +61 3 9609 3575 Mobile: +61 439 558 454
email: Fiona.Hadley@bhpbilliton.com                                 email: Andrew.Gunn@bhpbilliton.com

Eleanor Nichols                                                     United Kingdom and South Africa
Tel: +61 3 9609 2360 Mobile: +61 407 064 748
email: Eleanor.Nichols@bhpbilliton.com                              Tara Dines
                                                                    Tel : +44 20 7802 7113 Mobile : +44 7825 342 232
United Kingdom                                                      Email : Tara.Dines@bhpbilliton.com

Ruban Yogarajah                                                     Americas
Tel: +44 20 7802 4033 Mobile: +44 7827 082 022
email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com                              Brendan Harris
                                                                    Tel: +44 20 7802 4131 Mobile: +44 7990 527 726
Americas                                                            email: Brendan.Harris@bhpbilliton.com

Jaryl Strong                                                        Matt Chism
Tel: +1 713 499 5548 Mobile: +1 281 222 6627                        Tel: +1 71 359 96158 Mobile: +1 281 782 2238
email: Jaryl.Strong@bhpbilliton.com                                 email: Matt.E.Chism@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

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