Bhp Billiton Plc                                                                
ISIN:       GB0000566504                                                        
Share code: BIL                                                                 
BHP Billiton announced today that its fully owned subsidiary Rio Algom has      
agreed to sell its 25% stake in the Alumbrera copper-gold mine in Argentina to  
Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. for a purchase price of US$180 million.  Not less   
than US$130 million of the purchase price will be payable on closing.  Payment  
of up to US$50 million of the purchase price may be deferred by Wheaton until   
May 30, 2005.  Any deferred payment will bear interest at LIBOR plus 2% and will
be secured by the interests in Alumbrera acquired by Wheaton. Closing is        
anticipated in June, 2003.                                                      
BHP Billiton"s share of Alumbrera production for fiscal year ended June 30,     
2002, was 48,500 tonnes of copper contained in concentrate and 192,939 ounces of
gold.                                                                           
The transaction is subject to the receipt of required regulatory and other      
consents, approvals and releases, including from the lenders to the Alumbrera   
Project.                                                                        
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Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site:          
http://www.bhpbilliton.com                                                      
Australia                             United Kingdom                            
Andrew Nairn, Investor Relations      Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations  
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952                  Tel: +44 20 7802 4156                     
Mobile: +61 408 313 259               Mobile: +44 7769 934 942                  
email:                                email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com       
Andrew.W.Nairn@bhpbilliton.com                                                  
Tracey Whitehead, Media Relations     Ariane Gentil, Media Relations            
Tel: +61 3 9609 4202                  Tel: +44 20 7802 4177                     
Mobile: +61 419 404 978               email: Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com      
email:                                                                          
Tracey.Whitehead@bhpbilliton.com                                                
United States                         South Africa                              
Francis McAllister, Investor          Michael Campbell, Investor & Media        
Relations                             Relations                                 
Tel: +1 713 961 8625                  Tel: +27 11 376 3360                      
Mobile: +1 713 480 3699               Mobile: +27 82 458 2587                   
email:                                email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com 
Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com