BIL - BHP Billiton Plc - Initial work approved for2 Feb 2012
BIL
BIBLT                                                                           
BIL - BHP Billiton Plc - Initial work approved for Port Hedland Outer Harbour   
Development                                                                     
31 December 2011                                                                
BHP Billiton Plc                                                                
Share code:    BIL                                                              
ISIN:          GB0000566504                                                     
NEWS RELEASE                                                                    
Release    IMMEDIATE                                                            
Time                                                                            
Date       2 February 2012                                                      
Number     04/12                                                                
INITIAL WORK APPROVED FOR PORT HEDLAND OUTER HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT                
BHP Billiton today announced approval of US$917 million (BHP Billiton share     
US$779 million)(1) in pre-commitment funding for the construction of a 100      
million tonne per year outer harbour facility associated with its Western       
Australia Iron Ore operations.                                                  
The project, which is expected to be reviewed for full approval in the fourth   
quarter of calendar year 2012, has an embedded option to expand by a further 100
million tonnes per year.                                                        
The funds approved today will enable the Company to progress feasibility studies
and the procurement of long lead time items.  It will also allow for dredging to
begin, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.  In parallel with this    
work, engineering studies are underway to match mine and rail expansions to the 
expanded port capacity.                                                         
The first phase of the Outer Harbour Development would include the proposed     
construction of a four kilometre jetty, a four-berth wharf, 32 kilometres of    
dredged departure channel and landside infrastructure, including stockyards and 
a rail spur. Start-up would be in the first half of calendar year 2016.         
BHP Billiton President Iron Ore, Ian Ashby, said: "This investment is an        
important first step in providing the infrastructure to allow us to fully       
develop our world class resource base in the Pilbara.  The development of the   
outer harbour is pivotal for our longer term growth objectives and this initial 
funding is rapidly turning those plans into a reality."                         
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 Capital)                                               
(1) BHP Billiton`s partners in its Pilbara iron ore operations are: Itochu      
Minerals & Energy of Australia Pty Ltd, Mitsui-Itochu Iron Pty Ltd and Mitsui   
Iron Ore Corporation Pty Ltd.                                                   
Media Relations                         Investor Relations                      
                                                                                
Australia                               Australia                               
                                                                                
Samantha Stevens                        James Agar                              
Tel: +61 3 9609 2898                    Tel: +61 3 9609 2222                    
Mobile: +61 400 693 915                 Mobile: +61 467 807 064                 
email:                                  email:  James.Agar@bhpbilliton.com      
Samantha.Stevens@bhpbilliton.com                                                
                                       Andrew Gunn                              
Kelly Quirke                            Tel: +61 3 9609 3575                    
Tel: +61 3 9609 2896                    Mobile: +61 439 558 454                 
Mobile: +61 429 966 312                 email: Andrew.Gunn@bhpbilliton.com      
email: Kelly.Quirke@bhpbilliton.com                                             
                                       United Kingdom and South Africa          
Fiona Martin                                                                    
Tel: +61 3 9609 2211                    Brendan Harris                          
Mobile: +61 427 777 908                 Tel: +44 20 7802 4131                   
email: Fiona.Martin2@bhpbilliton.com    Mobile: +44 7990 527 726                
United Kingdom and Americas             email:                                  
Brendan.Harris@bhpbilliton.com           
Ruban Yogarajah                                                                 
Tel: US +1 713 966 2907 or              Tara Dines                              
UK +44 20 7802 4033                     Tel : +44 20 7802 7113                  
Mobile: UK +44 7827 082 022             Mobile : +44 7825 342 232               
email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com  Email : Tara.Dines@bhpbilliton.com      
                                                                                
                                       Americas                                 

                                       Scott Espenshade                         
                                       Tel: +1 713 599 6431                     
                                       Mobile: +1 713 208 8565                  
email:                                   
                                       Scott.Espenshade@bhpbilliton.com         
                                                                                
                                                                                
BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 BHP Billiton Plc Registration           
Registered in Australia                 number 3196209                          
Registered Office: 180 Lonsdale Street  Registered in England and Wales         
Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia       Registered Office: Neathouse Place      
Tel +61 1300 55 4757                    London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom          
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           
Date: 02/02/2012 07:05:37 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.                  
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