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BIL
BIBLT
BIL - BHP Billiton Plc - News Release
BHP Billiton Plc
Share code: BIL
ISIN: GB0000566504
NEWS RELEASE
Date: 12 June 2008
BHP BILLITON TO IMMEDIATELY COMMENCE A FURNACE REBUILD AT KALGOORLIE NICKEL
SMELTER
BHP Billiton today announced that, as a result of a deterioration of the
Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter furnace in Western Australia, it would bring
forward the furnace rebuild.
Planning and preparation for a major rebuild of the furnace has been in
progress for the past two years. The rebuild was planned to occur later in
the next financial year, however an assessment of the furnace condition has
determined the rebuild must take place now to ensure the ongoing safety of
the workplace.
The duration of the rebuild is estimated to be around four months.
The Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter normally produces around 100,000 tonnes of
nickel-in-matte per annum that is both the feedstock for the Kwinana Nickel
Refinery and exported to international customers. The estimated impact on
sales in the 2009 financial year is expected to be around 25,000 tonnes of
contained nickel units, plus 3,000 tonnes of contained nickel units in the
2008 financial year.
As a result of the furnace rebuild the Kwinana Nickel Refinery will be forced
to shutdown for the duration of the rebuild. The shutdown will commence
immediately. BHP Billiton`s Nickel West operations are endeavouring to
continue concentrate production.
As a consequence of the furnace rebuild, BHP Billiton is reallocating gas to
the Worsley Alumina Refinery.
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site:
www.bhpbilliton.com
Australia United Kingdom & South Africa
Samantha Evans, Media Andre Liebenberg, Investor
Relations Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 2898 Mobile: Tel: +44 20 7802 4131
+61 400 693 915 Mobile: +44 7920 236 974
email: email:
Samantha.Evans@bhpbilliton.co Andre.Liebenberg@bhpbilliton.
m com
Leng Lau, Investor Relations Illtud Harri, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 4202 Mobile: Tel: +44 20 7802 4195
+61 403 533 706 Mobile: +44 7920 237 246
email: email:
Leng.Y.Lau@bhpbilliton.com Illtud.Harri@bhpbilliton.com
United States
Tracey Whitehead, Investor &
Media Relations
Tel: US +1 713 599 6100 or UK
+44 20 7802 4031
Mobile: +44 7917 648 093
email:
Tracey.Whitehead@bhpbilliton.
com
Date: 12/06/2008 07:07:01 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
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