UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
November 9, 2015
| BHP BILLITON LIMITED | BHP BILLITON PLC | |
| (ABN 49 004 028 077) | (REG. NO. 3196209) | |
| (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) | (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) | |
| VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA | ENGLAND AND WALES | |
| (Jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation) | (Jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation) | |
| 171 COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE, | NEATHOUSE PLACE, LONDON, | |
| VICTORIA 3000 AUSTRALIA | UNITED KINGDOM | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Address of principal executive offices) | |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F: x Form 20-F ¨ Form 40-F
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: ¨ Yes x No
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): n/a
NEWS RELEASE
| Release Time |
IMMEDIATE | |
| Date |
9 November 2015 | |
| Number |
25/15 | |
UPDATE: INCIDENT AT SAMARCO
This update provides further information on the incident at the Samarco Mineração S.A (Samarco) iron ore operation in Minas Gerais, Brazil on Thursday, 5 November 2015. Each of BHP Billiton and Vale holds a 50 percent interest in Samarco.
The Samarco operations include a three tiered tailings dam complex. Within this complex, the Fundão dam failed and the downstream Santarém dam has been affected. This resulted in a significant release of mine tailings, flooding the community of Bento Rodrigues and impacting other communities downstream. The third dam in the complex, the Germano dam, is being monitored by Samarco. At this time, there is no confirmation of the causes of the tailings release.
BHP Billiton’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Mackenzie, will go to Brazil this week to understand first-hand the human, environmental and operational impacts of the incident. Meanwhile, BHP Billiton has offered its full support to help the immediate rescue efforts and to assist with the investigation.
BHP Billiton’s immediate priority is the welfare of the Samarco workforce and the local communities.
Details are still emerging in relation to the Samarco employees and contractors impacted by the incident. At this stage, Samarco has advised that there is at least one confirmed fatality with a further 13 members of the workforce missing.
The number of people in the communities impacted by the incident is yet to be confirmed, but the local authorities have reported that, at this stage there are at least 15 people from the communities unaccounted for.
BHP Billiton will continue to work with Samarco (operator), Vale, the local communities, local authorities, regulators and insurers to assess the full impact of this tragic incident. Further updates will be provided as soon as more information becomes available.
The Samarco operations have the capacity to produce 30.5 Mtpa of iron ore pellets and to process 32 Mtpa of concentrate. In the 2015 financial year, BHP Billiton’s share of production was 14.5 Mt and the contribution from Samarco was approximately 3 per cent of the BHP Billiton Group’s Underlying EBIT.
Following this incident, BHP Billiton’s iron ore production guidance for the 2016 financial year is under review.
A media release issued by BHP Billiton on 8 November 2015 is attached.
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found at: www.bhpbilliton.com.
| Media Relations | Investor Relations | |
| Australia | Australia | |
| Emily Perry | Tara Dines | |
| Tel: +61 3 9609 2800 Mobile: +61 477 325 803 | Tel: +61 3 9609 2222 Mobile: +61 499 249 005 | |
| email: Emily.Perry@bhpbilliton.com | email: Tara.Dines@bhpbilliton.com | |
| Paul Hitchins | Andrew Gunn | |
| Tel: + 61 3 9609 2592 Mobile: + 61 419 315 001 | Tel: +61 3 9609 3575 Mobile: +61 402 087 354 | |
| email: Paul.Hitchins@bhpbilliton.com | email: Andrew.Gunn@bhpbilliton.com | |
| Eleanor Nichols | United Kingdom and South Africa | |
| Tel: +61 3 9609 2360 Mobile: +61 407 064 748 | ||
| email: Eleanor.Nichols@bhpbilliton.com | Jonathan Price | |
| Tel: +44 20 7802 4131 Mobile: +44 7990 527 726 | ||
| United Kingdom and Americas | email: Jonathan.H.Price@bhpbilliton.com | |
| Ruban Yogarajah | Dean Simon | |
| Tel: +44 20 7802 4033 Mobile: +44 7827 082 022 | Tel: +44 20 7802 7461 Mobile: +44 7717 511 193 | |
| email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com | email: Dean.Simon@bhpbilliton.com | |
| Jennifer White | Americas | |
| Tel: +44 20 7802 7462 Mobile: +44 7827 253 764 | ||
| email: Jennifer.White@bhpbilliton.com | James Agar | |
| Tel: +1 212 310 1421 Mobile: +1 347 882 3011 | ||
| email: James.Agar@bhpbilliton.com | ||
| Joseph Suarez | ||
| Tel: +1 212 310 1422 Mobile: +1 646 400 3803 | ||
| email: Joseph.Suarez@bhpbilliton.com |
| BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 | BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 | |
| Registered in Australia | Registered in England and Wales | |
| Registered Office: Level 16, 171 Collins Street | Registered Office: Neathouse Place | |
| Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia | London SW1V 1LH United Kingdom | |
| Tel +61 1300 55 4757 Fax +61 3 9609 3015 | Tel +44 20 7802 4000 Fax +44 20 7802 4111 |
Members of the BHP Billiton Group which is headquartered in Australia
Follow us on social media
NEWS RELEASE
| Release Time | IMMEDIATE | |
| Date | 8 November 2015 | |
STATEMENT FROM THE BHP BILLITON BOARD OF DIRECTORS: SAMARCO INCIDENT
The BHP Billiton Board of Directors extends its deepest sympathies to all who have been affected by the tragic events at the Samarco iron ore operation in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The Board emphasised the Company would continue to provide Samarco with all the assistance necessary to support the response effort.
“Words cannot describe the impact of this tragedy on the employees and contractors of Samarco, their families and the community,” said BHP Billiton Chairman, Jac Nasser.
“Our thoughts are with the people of Samarco, the affected community and with the people of Brazil.”
BHP Billiton has extended immediate support to Samarco and continues to work closely with Vale, which is also a 50 per cent shareholder in the joint venture company.
BHP Billiton CEO, Andrew Mackenzie, will visit the incident site this week to meet with the Samarco response team, authorities and members of the community to understand first-hand the human, environmental and operational effects of the incident.
“Our first priority is to assist Samarco in safely and effectively responding to this terrible tragedy,” Mr Mackenzie said.
“BHP Billiton employees have been deeply affected by this tragic event and Samarco has our full support as it continues with the response effort.”
Editor’s note – As operator, Samarco is providing updates on the response and the status of operations. Further information is available at: http://www.samarco.com
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found at: www.bhpbilliton.com.
| Media Relations | Investor Relations | |
| Australia | Australia | |
| Emily Perry | Tara Dines | |
| Tel: +61 3 9609 2800 Mobile: +61 477 325 803 | Tel: +61 3 9609 2222 Mobile: +61 499 249 005 | |
| email: Emily.Perry@bhpbilliton.com | email: Tara.Dines@bhpbilliton.com | |
| Paul Hitchins | Andrew Gunn | |
| Tel: + 61 3 9609 2592 Mobile: + 61 419 315 001 | Tel: +61 3 9609 3575 Mobile: +61 402 087 354 | |
| email: Paul.Hitchins@bhpbilliton.com | email: Andrew.Gunn@bhpbilliton.com | |
| Eleanor Nichols | United Kingdom and South Africa | |
| Tel: +61 3 9609 2360 Mobile: +61 407 064 748 | ||
| email: Eleanor.Nichols@bhpbilliton.com | Jonathan Price | |
| Tel: +44 20 7802 4131 Mobile: +44 7990 527 726 | ||
| United Kingdom and Americas | email: Jonathan.H.Price@bhpbilliton.com | |
| Ruban Yogarajah | Dean Simon | |
| Tel: +44 20 7802 4033 Mobile: +44 7827 082 022 | Tel: +44 20 7802 7461 Mobile: +44 7717 511 193 | |
| email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com | email: Dean.Simon@bhpbilliton.com | |
| Jennifer White | Americas | |
| Tel: +44 20 7802 7462 Mobile: +44 7827 253 764 | ||
| email: Jennifer.White@bhpbilliton.com | James Agar | |
| Tel: +1 212 310 1421 Mobile: +1 347 882 3011 | ||
| email: James.Agar@bhpbilliton.com | ||
| Joseph Suarez | ||
| Tel: +1 212 310 1422 Mobile: +1 646 400 3803 | ||
| email: Joseph.Suarez@bhpbilliton.com |
| BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 | BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 | |
| Registered in Australia | Registered in England and Wales | |
| Registered Office: Level 16, 171 Collins Street | Registered Office: Neathouse Place | |
| Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia | London SW1V 1LH United Kingdom | |
| Tel +61 1300 55 4757 Fax +61 3 9609 3015 | Tel +44 20 7802 4000 Fax +44 20 7802 4111 |
Members of the BHP Billiton Group which is headquartered in Australia
Follow us on social media
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc | ||||||
| Date: | November 9, 2015 | By: | /s/ Rachel Agnew | |||
| Name: | Rachel Agnew | |||||
| Title: | Company Secretary | |||||