BHP BILLITON PLC - BHP Billiton Extends Western Australia Iron Ore Joint Venture Relationship

BHP Billiton Extends Western Australia Iron Ore Joint Venture Relationship

BHP BILLITON PLC

NEWS RELEASE
Release Time IMMEDIATE
Date           20 June 2013
Number         14/13



           BHP BILLITON EXTENDS WESTERN AUSTRALIA IRON ORE
                      JOINT VENTURE RELATIONSHIP


BHP Billiton today announced an extension of its long term joint venture relationship with
ITOCHU Corporation (ITOCHU) and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui).

Under the terms of the agreement, ITOCHU and Mitsui will invest approximately
US$0.8 billion and US$0.7 billion respectively in shares and loans of BHP Iron Ore
(Jimblebar) Pty Ltd, representing an eight per cent and seven per cent interest in the
Jimblebar mining hub and resource. The consideration includes a share of capital costs
associated with the Jimblebar Mine Expansion project incurred to date. The transaction is
subject to Australian Foreign Investment Review Board approval and other customary
conditions and is expected to be completed in the September 2013 quarter.

ITOCHU and Mitsui collectively hold a 15 per cent interest in BHP Billiton’s Western
Australia Iron Ore current mine, rail and port infrastructure. This investment will align
interests across the Western Australia Iron Ore supply chain and drive simplicity and
flexibility.

BHP Billiton President Iron Ore, Jimmy Wilson, said: “We are pleased to extend our
successful, long standing joint venture relationship with ITOCHU and Mitsui. The new
Jimblebar mine will have initial production capacity of 35 million tonnes per annum (100 per
cent basis) with future expansion potential. Once fully operational this will bring Western
Australia Iron Ore’s supply chain capacity to 220 million tonnes per annum (100 per cent
basis).”

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)

Media Relations                                                     Investor Relations

Australia                                                           Australia

Gabrielle Notley                                                    James Agar
Tel: +61 3 9609 3830 Mobile: +61 477 325 803                        Tel: +61 3 9609 2222 Mobile: +61 467 807 064
email: Gabrielle.Notley@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: +61 402 087 354
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
Jennifer White                                                      email: Brendan.Harris@bhpbilliton.com
Tel: +44 20 7802 7462 Mobile: +44 7827 253 764
email: Jennifer.White@bhpbilliton.com                               Matt Chism
                                                                    Tel: +1 71 359 96158 Mobile: +1 281 782 2238
                                                                    email: Matt.E.Chism@bhpbilliton.com
Americas

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

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