Bhp Billiton Plc - Court Dismisses Ok Tedi Proceedings                          
Media Release                                                                   
BHP Billiton Plc                                                                
Share Code:    BIL                                                              
ISIN Number:   GB0000566504                                                     
Date       16 January 2004                                                      
Number     04/04                                                                
COURT DISMISSES OK TEDI PROCEEDINGS                                             
BHP Billiton confirmed today that the Supreme Court of Victoria has approved the
dismissal of proceedings against BHP Billiton and Ok Tedi Mining Limited on the 
basis of a settlement reached with the plaintiffs last month.                   
BHP Billiton Chief Legal Counsel and Head of External Affairs, John Fast, said  
he was pleased with the outcome of the case, which confirms that the company has
at all times complied with its obligations under the 1996 Ok Tedi Settlement    
Agreement.                                                                      
"Importantly, the settlement also confirms that there are no further unresolved 
or outstanding matters in relation to the original terms of the 1996 Settlement 
Agreement.  This is consistent with the position taken by BHP Billiton at all   
times since 1996 and is the reason why we vigorously defended this action," Mr  
Fast said.                                                                      
BHP Billiton completed its withdrawal from the Ok Tedi Copper Mine in Papua New 
Guinea in February 2002 with the transfer of its 52% equity stake to the PNG    
Sustainable Development Program Limited.  The other current owners of the Ok    
Tedi Mine are the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Canadian Mining Company
Inmet Mining Corporation.