BHP Billiton: Review of Diamonds Business

YELLOWKNIFE, Northwest Territories, Nov. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BHP Billiton announced today that it is reviewing its diamonds business, comprising the Group's interests in the EKATI Diamond Mine and the Chidliak exploration project in Canada.

BHP Billiton's strategy is to invest in large, long life, upstream and expandable assets while remaining a simple and scalable organisation. EKATI is a world class operation and Chidliak is a promising exploration opportunity, but many years of extensive exploration suggest there are few options to develop new diamond mines that are consistent with this approach.

This review will, therefore, examine whether a continued presence in the diamonds industry is consistent with BHP Billiton's strategy and evaluate the potential sale of all or part of the diamonds business.

As it reviews its diamonds business, BHP Billiton will only pursue those options that will preserve EKATI's outstanding safety and environmental standards and protect the benefits that the mine has created for local communities. Potential transactions arising from the review will be subject to detailed analysis before a final decision is made. In the event that these criteria are not met, BHP Billiton will continue to operate its world class diamonds business in a sustainable manner.

BHP Billiton Diamonds & Specialty Products President Tim Cutt said: "EKATI has made a substantial contribution to economic growth and development in the North ever since diamonds were first discovered there in 1991.  Its success is a credit to the great team working at the mine and the strong partnerships they have built with Aboriginal communities and local businesses.

"The review we've announced today will seek to maintain this legacy so that EKATI continues to bring social and economic benefits to the North while remaining a great place to work."

BHP Billiton's review of its diamonds portfolio is expected to be completed by the end of January 2012.

About EKATI:

EKATI is located 310 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife and 200 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle. It is Canada's first diamond mine and owned by BHP Billiton (80%), Dr Stewart Blusson (10%) and Charles Fipke (10%). 

EKATI has produced an average of over three million carats of rough diamonds per year over the last three years with annual sales representing approximately 10% per cent of global diamond supply by value.

EKATI has an outstanding safety and environmental record and a strong history of working with communities in the North. Since operations began in 1998, its total expenditure on goods and services has exceeded $4.2 billion, of which almost 80% has been spent in the North with Aboriginal and Northern businesses.

About Chidliak:

Chidliak is a diamonds exploration project located on South East Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada. The property consists of 860,000 hectares about 140km from Iqaluit. Chidliak is a joint venture partnership between BHP Billiton (51%) and Peregrine Diamonds Ltd (49%) and has been operated by Peregrine since 2006.

Exploration is ongoing and 7 of 59 known kimberlites have shown economic potential, with others continuing to be explored and assessed. In addition to its diamond potential, the Chidliak property hosts mineral anomalies indicative of platinum / palladium, lead-zinc and copper deposits.

Further information on BHP Billiton can be found at: www.bhpbilliton.com.

SOURCE BHP Billiton