- BHPBilliton has reported annual production records in...

- BHP
Billiton has reported annual production records in aluminium,
copper, iron ore, nickel and natural gas in a strong demand environment.
Record annual production was achieved at North West Shelf
(Australia), Hillside (South Africa), Mozal (Mozambique), Paranam
(Suriname), Escondida (Chile), Antamina (Peru), Western Australian Iron
Ore, GEMCO (both Australia), New Mexico Coal (USA), Cerrejon Coal and
Cerro Matoso (both Colombia).
Worsley Development Capital Projects (Australia) and Western
Australian Iron Ore Rapid Growth Project 2 (Australia) were commissioned
and Escondida Sulphide Leach (Chile) achieved first production during the
quarter.
In petroleum products: production for the quarter was down 8pc on
the prior correspondng quarter, while year to date production was down
3pc to 115.95 milllion boe.
Production for the June 2006 quarter was lower than the June 2005
quarter. The loss of the Typhoon/Boris facility, well related downtime
and natural liquids decline at North West Shelf, natural field decline at
Liverpool Bay and timing of recognition of tax barrel entitlements at ROD
all had a negative impact on production.
Natural Gas: record production for the year ended June 2006
primarily reflects the commissioning of Minerva (Australia) in January
2005 and the 4th LNG Train at North West Shelf in September 2004. This
was partially offset by lost production from the Typhoon/Boris facility
and lower demand for Bass Strait gas.
Nickel: production up 31pc on the prior corresponding quarter,
and up 90pc year to date to 174.9bn tonnes.
Aluminium production: up 7pc on the prior June quarter and up 2pc
year to date at 1.36m tonnes.
Copper: up 16pc on the prior corresponding quarter and up 23pc
year to date to 1.27 billion tonnes.
June 2006 quarterly production reflected the inclusion of a full
quarter of production from Olympic Dam.
Silver: production for the year and quarter ended June 2006 was
lower than the year and quarter ended June 2005, primarily reflecting
declining head grades and the temporary closure of the southern zone of
the Cannington mine (Australia) in April 2006 to accelerate a program of
decline and stope access rehabilitation.
Lead: production for the year and quarter ended June 2006 was
lower than all comparative periods, primarily reflecting the temporary
closure of the southern zone of the Cannington mine.
Zinc: production for the year ended June 2006 was higher than the
year ended June 2005. Record annual zinc production at Cannington
reflecting higher head grades was partially offset by a lower proportion
of zinc contained ore processed at Antamina.
Uranium Oxide Concentrate: production in the quarter was lower
than the March 2006 quarter reflecting lower head grades at Olympic Dam.
Iron ore: production was up 3pc on the prior June quarter, and
steady year to date at 97.07m tonnes.
Metallurgical Coal: production for the year was lower than the
year ended June 2005. This primarily reflects reduced production at
Queensland Coal (Australia) due to depletion of reserves at Riverside and
extended scheduled maintenance outages at a number of mines. This was
partially offset by increased production at Goonyella reflecting the
continued ramp up of Broadmeadow (commissioned in August 2005) to
nameplate capacity.
Energy Coal: production for the year was in line with the prior
year. Production for the quarter was lower than the June 2005 quarter.
This primarily reflects lower production at Ingwe (South Africa) as it
recovered from significantly higher than average rainfall experienced in
the March quarter and increased strip ratios at Hunter Valley Coal
(Australia).