BHP Billiton plans to create an independent global metals and mining company based on a selection of its high-quality coal, aluminium, manganese, nickel and silver assets. The assets to be transferred to the new company would include among others Energy Coal South Africa and Illawarra Metallurgical Coal. Illawarra Coal (Australia) is a significant exporter of metallurgical coal into the Pacific Basin and Energy Coal South Africa is the third largest South African exporter of thermal coal.
Once simplified, BHP Billiton would be almost exclusively focused on its exceptionally large, long-life iron ore, copper, coal, petroleum and potash basins. BHP Billiton’s minerals portfolio will ultimately be focused on six major operated assets: Western Australia Iron Ore, Queensland Coal, New South Wales Energy Coal and Olympic Dam copper in Australia; and the Escondida and Pampa Norte copper mines in Chile. The Group also retains its non-operated interests in the Cerrejón energy coal (Colombia) joint ventures.