January 18, (Dow Jones Newswires) -- CHINA'S Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group settled this year's copper treatment and refining charges at the weekend with BHP Billiton at $US46.50 a tonne and US4.65c a pound, according to Tongling's chief negotiator.

"We have signed the agreement (for 2010) with BHP," said Yang Jun, who also leads the China Smelters Purchase Team.

Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group is China's second-largest copper smelter by output and the biggest purchaser of copper concentrate in annual contracts.