BHP BILLITON PLC - BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES SALE OF HIGHLAND VALLEY COPPER AND    
                   ROBINSON MINES                                               
BHP BILLITON PLC                                                                
Registration number 3196209                                                     
Share code: BIL                                                                 
ISIN: GB0000566504                                                              
Issuer Code: BIBLT                                                              
BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES SALE OF HIGHLAND VALLEY COPPER AND ROBINSON MINES        
BHP Billiton announced today that it had entered into agreements to sell its    
33.6% interest in Highland Valley Copper (`HVC") mine and 100% interest in      
Robinson mine to Quadra Mining Ltd. (`Quadra") for an aggregate cash            
consideration of US$91 million. The consideration is split US$73 million for HVC
and US$18 million for Robinson, payable in full upon completion, which is       
targeted for February 2004.                                                     
Both transactions are subject to various conditions, including the settlement of
definitive documentations and the raising of the required funds by Quadra. The  
HVC transaction is also subject to the existing majority partner, Teck Cominco  
Limited and its affiliate, Highmont Mining Company, not exercising their right  
of first refusal and in the event that they do, Quadra will be paid a fee.      
The interest in HVC, located in British Columbia, Canada, was acquired by BHP   
Billiton in October 2000 when the then Billiton Plc acquired Rio Algom. Teck    
Cominco Limited and its affiliates own the remaining 66.4% interest. Robinson, a
copper/gold mine located in Nevada, USA, has been on care and maintenance since 
mid-1999.                                                                       
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site:          
http://www.bhpbilliton.com                                                      
Australia                                   United Kingdom                      
Andrew Nairn,                               Mark Lidiard,                       
Investor Relations                          Investor & Media Relations          
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952                        Tel: +44 20 7802 4156               
Mobile: +61 408 313 259                     email:Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com  
email:Andrew.W.Nairn@bhpbilliton.com                                            
Tania Price,                                Ariane Gentil,                      
Media Relations                             Media Relations                     
Tel: +61 3 9609 3815                        Tel: +44 20 7802 4177               
Mobile: +61 419 152 780                     email:Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com 
email:Tania.Price@bhpbilliton.com                                               
                                            South Africa                        
United States                               Michael Campbell,                   
Francis McAllister,                         Investor & Media Relations          
Investor Relations                          Tel: +27 11 376 3360                
Tel: +1 713 961 8625                        Mobile: +27 82 458 2587             
Mobile: +1 713 480 3699                     email:                              
email:Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com  Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com  
Date: 03/12/2003 05:55:03 PM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
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