BHP BILLITON PLC - BHP Billiton Approves Escondida Water Supply Project

BHP Billiton Approves Escondida Water Supply Project

BHP BILLITON PLC

NEWS RELEASE

Release Time IMMEDIATE
Date            25 July 2013
Number          17/13



       BHP BILLITON APPROVES ESCONDIDA WATER SUPPLY PROJECT


BHP Billiton today approved an investment of US$1,972 million (BHP Billiton share) to
sustain operations at Escondida in Chile, by constructing a new 2,500 litre per second
sea-water desalination facility.

The project will ensure continued water supply to Escondida, as water use increases upon
completion of the 152,000 tonne per day OGP1 copper concentrator.

Construction of the new desalination facility will commence in July 2013 and will include the
development of two pipelines, four high pressure pump stations, a reservoir at the mine site
and high voltage infrastructure to support the system. The new facility will be commissioned
in 2017.

BHP Billiton Copper President, Peter Beaven, said: “Securing a sustainable water supply in
the Atacama Desert is a major priority for all Chilean copper producers, so the approval of
the Escondida Water Supply project is a significant milestone for our business. The new
desalination facility will minimise our reliance on the region’s aquifers, which will help us to
meet our environmental commitments and enable us to achieve our long-term business
strategy.”

Escondida is located 3,100 meters above sea level, 170km South-East of the City of
Antofagasta. It is owned by BHP Billiton (57.5%), Rio Tinto (30.0%), JECO Corporation
(10.0%) and JECO 2 Ltd (2.5%). BHP Billiton operates the Escondida mine.

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                              James Agar
                                                                    Tel: +61 3 9609 2222 Mobile: +61 467 807 064
Jennifer White                                                      email: James.Agar@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


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Registered Office: 180 Lonsdale Street                              Registered Office: Neathouse Place
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