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BHP Billiton Plc -
BHP Billiton Plc
ISIN: GB0000566504
Share code: BIL
News Release
8 April 2003
MOZAL EXPANSION PROJECT PRODUCES FIRST ALUMINIUM
BHP Billiton, on behalf of the other shareholders of Mozal, the Government of
Mozambique, the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa and
Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan, announces that first aluminium was cast at the
expansion project at the Mozal aluminium smelter near Maputo in Mozambique on 7
April 2003.
Approved in June 2001, the expansion project will double the output of the
smelter from 253 000 tons per year to 506 000 tons per year of primary ingots.
Full production is expected to be reached in the fourth quarter of 2003. First
metal production has been achieved more than five months ahead of schedule and
the cost to completion is expected to be well below the budget of US$860
million.
Of the approximately 5 000 construction employees that were on site at the peak
of activity, more than 68% were Mozambican. Over the course of the project, some
3 000 Mozambicans have been trained in building skills. More than 60 Mozambican
companies have directly participated in the project and there has been a total
local spend of approximately US$80 million.
To date the Mozal expansion construction team has worked 14.6 million man-hours.
Currently three million continuous man-hours have been recorded without a lost
time injury, and the project lost time injury frequency rate is 1.14, which is a
world-class performance. This achievement is the result of concerted safety
campaigns across the construction site and support from all contractors and
their employees.
Mike Salamon, Executive Director and President of Aluminium at BHP Billiton,
said: "The Mozal expansion project, like BHP Billiton"s other southern African
aluminium smelter projects before it, has surpassed both its time and financial
targets. I salute all those at Mozal who have contributed to achieving first
metal at the expansion project five months ahead of schedule. We now look
forward to a safe and successful ramp-up to full production capacity of 506 000
tons per annum by calendar year end".
END
Further news and information can be found on our Internet site: www.mozal.com
South Africa
Michael Campbell, Investor and Petronella Gorrie, Communications
Media Relations manager
Tel: +11 376 3561 Tel: +11 456 1571
Mobile: + 27 82 458 2587 Mobile: + 27 82 827 8815
email: email: pgorrie@murrob-es.com
Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com
Mozambique
Mario Ferro
Tel: 310 052/3
Mobile: 082 301 234
email: saatchimo@tvcabo.co.mz |
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