Billiton CHRONOLOGY

Vincent Gildemeester Baron von Tuyll van Serooskerken, John Francis Loudon and 1851 their party discover a rich supply of tin on Billiton Island (Belitung) on the first day of their landing – 28 June 1851. Tin mining in Indonesia ceased in 1958.

NV Billiton Maatschappij established in The Hague, Netherlands. 1860

1928 Tin smelting commences in the Netherlands (HMIB).

First bauxite mine established on Bintan island, Indonesia. 1935

1939 Bauxite exploration in Suriname.

Bauxite mining commences in Suriname (EMS). 1941

1958 Termination of tin mining in Indonesia.

NV Billiton Maatschappij discovers bauxite in the Boé region, 1959 approximately 150 kilometres east of Bissau.

1962 Titanium dioxide production commences in the Netherlands (KZM).

Royal/Dutch Shell Group acquires Billiton. 1970

1974 Commissions new electrolytic zinc production facility in the Netherlands (Budelco).

Commissions Cuajone copper mine, Peru. Construction commenced in 1969 (Billiton 9% equity). 1976 Commissions Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) heavy minerals dredging operations (Billiton 50%).

First joint venture discussions between Billiton Exploration B.V. and PT Broken Hill Proprietary Indonesia to explore for metal mineralisation on the island of Belitug, Indonesia. 1977 Shipments commence from Nanisivik zinc and lead mine on Strathcona Sound, Baffin Island, Canada (Billiton 11.25%). This mine was the most northerly mine in the world. Billiton commenced the partnership in 1972 but mining discovery dates from 1910/1911. Interests sold to Breakwater Resources Ltd in 1996.

YEAR Acquires Morris Ashby Limited, United Kingdom producer 1978 of anti-corrosive pigments for paint industry.

Commissions Mineração Rio de Norte S.A. (MRN) bauxite mine near the Trombetas River in the Amazon basin, Brazil. The joint venture was formed in 1976 (Billiton 14.8%). 1979 The BIMA, a 110-metre-long and 30-metre wide offshore dredger built for Billiton commences mining in the South China Sea off the Pulau Tujuh (seven islands) archipelago. Mining in the region is a result of an exploration contract with the Indonesian Government entered into in 1968.

Windarra nickel mine, Western Australia re-opened. 1980 Mine was closed in 1978 (Billiton 50% equity).

1981 Commissions magnesium plant at Veendam, the Netherlands.

Commissions Valesul Alumínio S.A. Valesul aluminium smelter, Santa Cruz, Brazil. Commences magnesium salt mining in The Netherlands. Billiton Refractories in The Netherlands commences production of magnesia. 1982 Commissions Cerro Matoso nickel mine and ferro-nickel smelter, Colombia, South America. Construction commenced 1978.

Commissions Alumina plant on Aughinish Island in the Shannon estuary, 1983 Republic of Ireland. Construction commenced 1977 (Billiton 35% equity).

Production at Paranam alumina refinery commences. Sells partial interest in Onverdacht bauxite mine in Suriname. Commissions Alumar alumina refinery and aluminium smelter in Brazil. 1984 Commissions Worsley Alumina Venture alumina refinery in Worsley, Western Australia. Establishes joint venture in 1980; achieves 86% ownership in 2000.

Closes tungsten/molybdenum mine in Canada and sells assets. Tin dredging in Indonesia and Thailand ceases. 1985 Sells interests in zinc/lead mine in Canada. Sells titanium plant in UK.

YEAR Commissions Pering lead/zinc mine in South Africa. Renovates HJ Enthoven secondary lead plant in the UK. Purchases KBM, an aluminium master alloys company in the Netherlands. 1986 World’s first bio-leaching plant implemented at Fairview gold mine, South Africa. The technology is now known as BIOX™.

Commissions Boddington gold mine (BHP 20%) in Western Australia. Worsley joint venture partners commence development at the site in 1985. Transfers direct 1987 interests to Acacia Resources Limited in 1994, when the company lists on the Australian Stock Exchange. (AngloGold acquires Acacia Resources Limited in 2000.) Interest in Boddington is maintained via Worsley stake.

Lebong Tandai gold and silver mine in Indonesia. Commissions Ohoquelimpic gold/silver mine in Chile. 1988 Commissions Cadjebut zinc/lead mine (BHP 58%) in Western Australia. Commissions INGAL gallium production facility in Germany.

Selbaie copper, zinc, silver, gold mine in Canada. (Mine commissioned 1985, 1989 remaining equity acquired 1992.)

Commissions Tiofine titanium oxide plant in the Netherlands. Commissions Bogosu gold mine in Ghana. Commissions Consórcio de Alumínio de Maranhão (Alumar) integrated alumina refinery and aluminium smelter, São Luis, Brazil. 1990 Alumar is joint venture with Alcoa and Alcan (BMSA: 36% – refinery; 46.34% – smelter). Construction commenced 1984. Commissions Lerokie gold, silver and barite mine in Indonesia.

1992 100% ownership of Selbaie copper, zinc, silver and gold mine in Canada.

Ingwe Coal Corporation formed. Acquires Togara South exploration permit for coal in Queensland, Australia. 1994 Commissions Ashanti BIOX™ plant.

QNI increases its interest in Yabulu nickel refinery from 80% to 100%. 1995 Commissions Columbus Stainless Steel plant, Middleburg, South Africa. (Effective equity reduced from 20% to 7.2% in 2001.)

YEAR Ingwe purchases Coal Mines of Australia Limited, consisting of four collieries in New South Wales, Australia. Commissions Alunorte aluminium refinery, Brazil (Billiton (MRN) 24.6%). Commissions Hillside aluminium smelter, South Africa (owned by Alusaf). Acquires 100% (from 44%) of Alusaf. Assets include: 1996 • 100% Hillside aluminium smelter, Richards Bay, South Africa (commissioned 1996). • 100% Bayside aluminium smelter, Richards Bay, South Africa (commissioned 1971; expanded 1982). • 42.5% Alustang P/L aluminium rod producer (remaining 57.5% acquired by Billiton in financial year 2000).

Commissions BioCOP™ pilot plant at Chuquicamata, Chile. Billiton Plc lists on the London Stock Exchange. Approves Mozal aluminium smelter, Mozambique. 1997 Billiton merges its nickel interests with QNI (Australia) in exchange for an issue of shares in QNI which gives Billiton a controlling interest above 55%. QNI retained its ASX listing. Minority shareholding acquired in 1998 giving Billiton 100% ownership Commissions Lelydorp III bauxite mine, Surinam. Operations at Accaribo deposit ceased (BMS 76%).

Purchases Groote Eylandt Mining Co Pty Limited (GEMCO) manganese quarries in the Northern Territory, Australia, and Tasmanian Electro Metallurgical Co Pty Limited (TEMCO) operations at Bell Bay in Tasmania, Australia, from BHP. Acquires Ingwe (100%). 1998 Joint venture established with Anglo American Corporation for the purchase and de-listing of Samancor Limited, a South African based chrome and manganese producer (Billiton 60%).

Signs joint development agreement with the Yunnan LanPing Non-Ferrous Metals Company to participate in the LanPing zinc and lead resource in Yunnan Province, China. 2000 Acquires La Granja copper deposit in Peru from Cambior and Minero Peru. Forms Alliance Copper as a joint venture with Codelco of Chile. The first project is to develop BioCop on a commercial scale at the Chuquicamata facilities.

YEAR Acquires Rio Algom (100%) for $1.2 billion. Assets include: • 29.1% Bullmoose coal operations, Canada. • 33.6% Highland Valley Copper, Canada. • 100% Cerro Colorado copper mine, Chile. 2000 • 100% Spence copper deposit, Chile. cont. • 25% Alumbrera copper mine, Argentina. • 33.75% Antamina copper-zinc mine, Peru. • 25% Polaris lead-zinc mine, Little Cornwallis Island, Canadian Arctic. Achieves 86% ownership of Worsley following purchase of Alcoa’s 56% interest.

Merges exploration activities of Rio Algom with the exploration division. 2001 BHP Billiton is dual listed on the London Stock Exchange and Australian Stock Exchange on 29 June 2001.

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