Production Activities Of Ores, Alloys & Metals By BHP Billiton In Oct. - Dec. 2009
= Produced 1,537,000 Tons Of Mn-Ore And 131,000 Tons Of Mn Alloys As Recovered
    The quantities of ores, alloys, and metals produced by BHP Billiton ( BHPB ) in the fourth quarter ( October -December ) of 2009 were released and the contents were as per the table attached hereto.
    Namely, BHPB produced 1,537,000 tons of manganese ore and 131,000 tons of manganese ferro-alloys in October- December quarter of 2009, both of which had a considerable increase compared with those in the preceding quarter of July - September. Also, BHPB produced 49,000 tons in total of nickel in ferro-nickel and nickel metal in the fourth quarter of 2009 as increased from that in July - September quarter of 2009 but the output of molybdenum in concentrate in the fourth quarter by BHPB decreased to 113 tons from that in the preceding quarter.
    For a reference, owing to the sale of Yabulu refinery completed on the 31st July of 2009, cobalt production was not included in that for October - December quarter.
    The highlighted matter in the fourth quarter of 2009 was that, reflecting an improvement of the demand for manganese ore, the output was higher than that as initially expected and BHPB anticipates to return to normal levels in the first quarter ( January - March ) of 2010.
    Also, the output of manganese ferro-alloys by BHPB in October - December quarter of 2009 had an increase from that in the preceding quarter of July - September but the operation came down to 65% of nominal capacity and BHPB expects to be at full capacity towards the end March of 2010.
    On the other hand, since Yabulu nickel refinery in Australia was sold on the 31st July f 2009, the sources to supply nickel have decreased but nickel production at Nickel West in Western Australia in the fourth quarter of 2009 recorded the highest level per quarter in the past years and Cerro Matoso in Colombia had maintained a firm tone on nickel production. These positive factors for nickel production compensated a reduction in sources for nickel supply. In addition,Kalgoorlie nickel smelter in Australia achieved high nickel production on quarterly base.
    As regards molybdenum, only Antamina mine in Peru produced 113 tons of molybdenum in molybdenum concentrate in October - December quarter of 2009 and Pint Valley in the USA has suspended to operate from February of 2009.

Table: Production Activities by BHP Billiton in Oct.- Dec. 2009        (Unit: 1,000MT)