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BHP - BHP Billiton Approves Its Share Of North West Shelf Expansion
BHP Billiton Plc
Registration Number 3196209
Registered In England And Wales
Share Code: Bil
Isin: GB0000566504
10 June 2005
BHP BILLITON APPROVES ITS SHARE OF NORTH WEST SHELF EXPANSION
BHP Billiton today announced approval for a fifth train expansion of the
liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing facilities at the North West Shelf
Project on the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia.
The approval covers a liquefaction processing train with a capacity of 4.2
million tonnes per annum (mtpa), additional processing facilities and associated
infrastructure. Based on the operator`s estimate the total investment is
approximately A$2 billion (BHP Billiton`s share approximately US$250 million).
BHP Billiton`s Group President Energy, Philip Aiken, said: `This expansion is
integral to BHP Billiton`s gas commercialisation strategy and our goal to
maximise the value of our interest in the North West Shelf.`
`It reflects our interest in extending our long-term relationships with our
existing buyers in Japan and Korea together with the increasing global LNG
demand in particular from emerging markets such as China and the United States,`
Mr Aiken said.
`The North West Shelf provides a high-value product based on a proven track
record of stable and reliable supply,` Mr Aiken said.
Construction on the fifth train, which is similar to the fourth train, will
commence later this year and first production is expected in late 2008.
At its completion the expansion will increase the production capacity of the
North West Shelf Project to 15.9 million tonnes of LNG per annum.
The six equal participants in the Train 5 expansion project are BHP Billiton
Petroleum (North West Shelf) Pty Ltd (16.67%); BP Developments Australia Pty Ltd
(16.67%); ChevronTexaco Australia Pty Ltd (16.67%); Japan Australia LNG (MIMI)
Pty Ltd (16.67%); Shell Development (Australia) Pty Ltd (16.67%); and Woodside
Energy Limited (16.67%) (operator). CNOOC NWS Private Limited is also a member
of the North West Shelf Venture but does not have an interest in North West
Shelf Venture infrastructure.
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site:
http://www.bhpbilliton.com
Australia United Kingdom
Jane Belcher, Investor Relations Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952 Tel: +44 20 7802 4156
Mobile: +61 417 031 653 Mobile: +44 7769 934 942
email: email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com
Jane.H.Belcher@bhpbilliton.com
Tania Price, Media Relations Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3815 Tel: +44 20 7802 4177
Mobile: +61 419 152 780 Mobile: +44 78 81 51 8715
email: Tania.Price@bhpbilliton.com email: Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com
United States South Africa
Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Michael Campbell, Investor & Media
Relations Relations
Tel: USA +1 713 599 6100 or Tel: +27 11 376 3360
UK +44 20 7802 4031 Mobile: +27 82 458 2587
email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com
Date: 13/06/2005 08:13:28 AM
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