BIL
 BIBLT                                                                           
BIL - BHP Billiton Metallurgical Coal Price Negotiations Update                 
News Release                                                                    
BHP Billiton Plc                                                                
Share code:  BIL                                                                
ISIN:        GB0000566504                                                       
NEWS RELEASE                                                                    
9 April 2008                                                                    
BHP BILLITON METALLURGICAL COAL PRICE NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE                       
BHP Billiton today announced that 2008 terms for a significant portion of       
annually-priced metallurgical coking coal contracts, relating to the BHP        
Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) operations in Queensland, have been          
concluded following settlements initially outside Japan and more recently       
with key Japanese customers.                                                    
Based on contract settlements to date, FOB($US) prices for Peak Downs and       
other similar BMA metallurgical coking coal products are expected to            
increase within the range of 206-240 per cent over 2007 levels.                 
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site:          
www.bhpbilliton.com                                                             
Australia                          United Kingdom                               
Emma Meade, Media Relations        Andre Liebenberg, Investor Relations         
Tel: +61 3 9609 2896  Mobile: +61  Tel: +44 20 7802 4131  Mobile: +44           
409 199 236                        7920 236 974                                 
Email: Emma.Meade@bhpbilliton.com  Email:                                       
Andre.Liebenberg@bhpbilliton.com              
Leng Lau, Investor Relations       Illtud Harri, Media Relations                
Tel: +61 3 9609 4202  Mobile: +61  Tel: +44 20 7802 4195  Mobile: +44           
403 533 706                        7920 237 246                                 
Email: Leng.Y.Lau@bhpbilliton.com  Email: Illtud.Harri@bhpbilliton.com          
                                                                                
United States                      South Africa                                 
Tracey Whitehead, Investor & Media RelationsAlison Gilbert, Investor Relations  
Tel: US +1 713 599 6100            Tel: SA +27 11 376 2121                      
or UK +44 20 7802 4031             or UK +44 20 7802 4183                       
Mobile: +44 7917 648 093           Mobile: +44 7769 936 227                     
Email: Tracey.Whitehead@bhpbilliton.comEmail: Alison.Gilbert@bhpbilliton.com    
Date: 09/04/2008 07:43:50 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.                  
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