BHP Billiton Production Report for the Quarter Ended 31 March 2002.Business/Energy Editors MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 25, 2002 BHP Billiton BHP Billiton is the world's largest mining company.[1] Its origin is in the 2001 merger of Australia's Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP) and the UK's Billiton, which has a South African background. The result is a dual-listed company. today released its production report for the quarter ended 31 March, 2002. The results demonstrate a solid operational performance in the face of extremely difficult market conditions. Production of most major commodities was in line with both the corresponding period last year and the Dec. 2001 quarter. Energy coal sales volumes were impacted by the weakening weak·en tr. & intr.v. weak·ened, weak·en·ing, weak·ens To make or become weak or weaker. weak  en·er n. of European Europeanemanating from or pertaining to Europe. European bat lyssavirus see lyssavirus. European beech tree fagussylvaticus. European blastomycosis see cryptococcosis. markets after an unseasonably warm winter and an influx of non-traditional European supply sources. Lower U.S. domestic sales due to reduced customer demand also negatively impacted energy coal volumes. -- Natural Gas production was in line with the March 2001 quarter and 13 per cent lower than the Dec. 2001 quarter. Lower year on year Bass Strait (Australia) production was mainly due to the cooler south east Australian summer, resulting in less gas being used to supplement electricity generation. In addition, lower volumes from the Liverpool Bay, Bruce and Keith fields (UK) during the March 2002 quarter were largely due to the end of the northern winter. This was partially offset by the commencement of gas production at the Zamzama field (Pakistan) in March 2001 and Typhoon (USA) in July 2001. -- Raw Steel production was in line with both the March 2001 quarter and the Dec. 2001 period. Steel despatches from flat and coated operations were eight per cent above the March 2001 quarter and Australian domestic despatches were almost six per cent above the same quarter. In addition, Australian export despatches were up almost 20 per cent on the March 2001 period. This was in part offset by lower production at New Zealand steel due to planned maintenance and lower despatches from overseas plants. -- Ekati(TM) Diamond production was 149 per cent higher than the March quarter last year and in line with the Dec. 2001 quarter following the acquisition of Dia Met Minerals Ltd, effective 1 July 2001. Slightly higher production was recorded for the March 2002 quarter following the commencement of production from the Misery pipe in Dec. 2001. As advised previously, the Misery pipe will provide a small but consistent proportion of the Ekati(TM) mine's total output. -- Titanium Minerals Lower sales volumes were recorded at Richards Bay Minerals due to softer global markets. (Note: Due to confidentiality agreements with joint venture partners, production figures for Richards Bay Minerals are not contained in this report.) As a result of the failure and subsequent suspension of production, BHP Billiton declared "force majeure [French, A superior or irresistible power.] An event that is a result of the elements of nature, as opposed to one caused by human behavior. The term force majeure " at Boodarie Iron on 26 March 2002. Safety of personnel is the paramount consideration at all BHP Billiton operations and production will not resume until the detailed investigation and necessary rectification rectification /rec·ti·fi·ca·tion/ (rek?ti-fi-ka´shun) 1. the act of making straight, pure, or correct. 2. redistillation of a liquid to purify it. work is completed. BHP Billiton is working with customers, suppliers and contractors to minimise disruptions and will provide further information when it becomes available. -- Natural Gas production was in line with the March 2001 quarter and 13 per cent lower than the Dec. 2001 quarter. Lower year on year Bass Strait (Australia) production was mainly due to the cooler south east Australian summer, resulting in less gas being used to supplement electricity generation. In addition, lower volumes from the Liverpool Bay, Bruce and Keith fields (UK) during the March 2002 quarter were largely due to the end of the northern winter. This was partially offset by the commencement of gas production at the Zamzama field (Pakistan) in March 2001 and Typhoon (USA) in July 2001. -- Raw Steel production was in line with both the March 2001 quarter and the Dec. 2001 period. Steel despatches from flat and coated operations were eight per cent above the March 2001 quarter and Australian domestic despatches were almost six per cent above the same quarter. In addition, Australian export despatches were up almost 20 per cent on the March 2001 period. This was in part offset by lower production at New Zealand steel due to planned maintenance and lower despatches from overseas plants. -- Ekati(TM) Diamond production was 149 per cent higher than the March quarter last year and in line with the Dec. 2001 quarter following the acquisition of Dia Met Minerals Ltd, effective 1 July 2001. Slightly higher production was recorded for the March 2002 quarter following the commencement of production from the Misery pipe in Dec. 2001. As advised previously, the Misery pipe will provide a small but consistent proportion of the Ekati(TM) mine's total output. -- Titanium Minerals Lower sales volumes were recorded at Richards Bay Minerals due to softer global markets. (Note: Due to confidentiality agreements with joint venture partners, production figures for Richards Bay Minerals are not contained in this report.) In response to the recent softening softening /sof·ten·ing/ (sof´en-ing) malacia. softening a change of consistency, with loss of firmness or hardness. of global energy coal markets, BHP BHP blood hydrostatic pressure; the pressure exerted by the blood cells and plasma in the capillaries. Billiton's wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. , Ingwe Coal, will further revise production plans resulting in a short-term Short-term Any investments with a maturity of one year or less. short-term 1. Of or relating to a gain or loss on the value of an asset that has been held less than a specified period of time. reduction in energy coal available for the export market. At this stage, Ingwe will not replace the four million tons per annum Per annum Yearly. of export coal shut-in shut-in n. A person confined indoors by illness or disability. adj. 1. Confined to a home or hospital, as by illness. 2. Disposed to avoid social contact; excessively withdrawn or introverted. following the accelerated closure of the Rietspruit mine (BHP Billiton 50 per cent). In addition, Ingwe will accelerate closure of the Blinkpan Shaft shaft (shaft) a long slender part, such as the diaphysis of a long bone. shaft n. 1. An elongated rodlike structure, such as the midsection of a long bone. 2. at the Koornfontein Mine (South Africa South Africa, Afrikaans Suid-Afrika, officially Republic of South Africa, republic (2005 est. pop. 44,344,000), 471,442 sq mi (1,221,037 sq km), S Africa. ) and will further reduce export production by approximately 800,000 tonnes over the next three months through various adjustments to operating plans at the Optimum, Middelburg and Douglas mines in South Africa. -- Oil and Condensate condensate, matter in the form of a gas of atoms, molecules, or elementary particles that have been so chilled that their motion is virtually halted and as a consequence they lose their separate identities and merge into a single entity. production was in line with both the March 2001 quarter and the Dec. 2001 quarter. Natural field decline at Griffin (Australia) was offset by higher production in the March 2002 quarter following the completion of repairs to the Scindian 3 flowline (full production resumed in Jan. 2002) and the Griffin-9 infill in·fill n. 1. The use of vacant land and property within a built-up area for further construction or development, especially as part of a neighborhood preservation or limited growth program. 2. program. Natural field decline at Bass Strait Bass Strait (băs), channel, 80 to 150 mi (129–241 km) wide, between Tasmania and Victoria, SE Australia, connecting the Indian Ocean and Tasman Sea; Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne are on the northwest coast. (Australia) was offset in part by the ongoing success of the West Tuna infill program. Lower production was recorded at Laminaria lam·i·nar·i·a n. Any of a genus of kelp applied to the cervical os to stimulate dilation. Laminaria A medical product made from a certain type of seaweed that is physically placed near the cervix to cause it to (Australia) during the March 2002 quarter, while the start of operations at Typhoon typhoon: see hurricane. (USA) in July 2001 had a positive impact on the year on year production figures. -- Natural Gas production was in line with the March 2001 quarter and 13 per cent lower than the Dec. 2001 quarter. Lower year on year Bass Strait (Australia) production was mainly due to the cooler south east Australian summer, resulting in less gas being used to supplement electricity generation. In addition, lower volumes from the Liverpool Bay, Bruce and Keith fields (UK) during the March 2002 quarter were largely due to the end of the northern winter. This was partially offset by the commencement of gas production at the Zamzama field (Pakistan) in March 2001 and Typhoon (USA) in July 2001. -- Raw Steel production was in line with both the March 2001 quarter and the Dec. 2001 period. Steel despatches from flat and coated operations were eight per cent above the March 2001 quarter and Australian domestic despatches were almost six per cent above the same quarter. In addition, Australian export despatches were up almost 20 per cent on the March 2001 period. This was in part offset by lower production at New Zealand steel due to planned maintenance and lower despatches from overseas plants. -- Ekati(TM) Diamond production was 149 per cent higher than the March quarter last year and in line with the Dec. 2001 quarter following the acquisition of Dia Met Minerals Ltd, effective 1 July 2001. Slightly higher production was recorded for the March 2002 quarter following the commencement of production from the Misery pipe in Dec. 2001. As advised previously, the Misery pipe will provide a small but consistent proportion of the Ekati(TM) mine's total output. -- Titanium Minerals Lower sales volumes were recorded at Richards Bay Minerals due to softer global markets. (Note: Due to confidentiality agreements with joint venture partners, production figures for Richards Bay Minerals are not contained in this report.) Further news and information can be found on our Internet Internet Publicly accessible computer network connecting many smaller networks from around the world. It grew out of a U.S. Defense Department program called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), established in 1969 with connections between computers at the site: www.bhpbilliton.com |
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