BHP Billiton met its production targets for copper, iron ore, coking coal and nickel in fiscal year 2021

Today, BHP Billiton issued its operating statement for fiscal year 2021 (as of June 30, 2021). The output of Western Australian Iron Mine (WAIO) and Queensland Goonyella coking coal mine both reached new annual highs. Copper production at the Olympic Dam (Olympic Dam) has reached its highest level since it was acquired by the group in 2005, and gold production has also reached its highest level since its inception. Despite the challenging production and operating environment in Chile caused by the novel coronavirus epidemic, average production at the Eskondida (Escondida) copper concentrator remained at an all-time high.

In fiscal year 2021, the group's oil output was slightly higher than the guidance target, the output of copper, iron ore, coking coal and nickel reached the annual output guidance target, and the thermal coal output also successfully achieved the adjusted guidance target.

Western Australian Iron Mine (WAIO), Escondida (Escondida) Copper Mine and Queensland Coal Mine will meet full-year unit cost guidance targets (benchmark exchange rate A $1 = US $0.70; US $1 = 769 Chilean pesos). The unit cost of oil is expected to be slightly lower than the target. New South Wales Power Coal Mine (NSWEC) unit cost is expected to be slightly higher than the guidance target.

In fiscal year 2021, the Group's four major construction projects were steadily advanced as planned or ahead of budget. The Nanpo Mine (South Flank) in Western Australia and the Ruby oil and gas project in Trinidad and Tobago were successfully put into production in May 2021. Atlantis Phase III Oil Project (Atlantis Phase 3) and Spencer Copper expansion Project (Spence Growth Option) were put into production in the first half of 2021.

In terms of exploration, the Group continued to expand its future-oriented commodities and increase its reserves for early projects throughout the year. We have signed an agreement to carry out nickel exploration in Canada and an agreement to purchase exploration rights for the (Elliott Copper Project) copper project in Elliott, Australia. In May 2021, Oak Dam SA launched the next phase of drilling, which will provide more information for future project design.

Han Murui (Mike Henry), chief executive of BHP Billiton, said:

In fiscal year 2021, BHP Billiton achieved another good performance in terms of operating performance and production safety. There have been no fatal accidents in all of the group's mining areas in the past two fiscal years. In the current financial year, record production has been achieved in many of the Group's assets, and four major construction projects are progressing steadily as planned.

The Group's good performance in this financial year is not only due to the outstanding ability and unremitting efforts of all BHP Billiton staff, but also inseparable from the sound operation of the system of various departments of the Group, as well as the strong support of suppliers and customers.

Production at the Western Australian Iron Mine and the Queensland Goonyella Riverside coking coal mine both reached new annual highs. The capacity of Chile's Escondida copper mine at the concentrator has also remained at an all-time high. Copper production of (Olympic Dam), the Olympic dam in South Australia, has reached its highest level since it was acquired by the group in 2005, and gold production has also reached the highest level since its inception.

The Nanpo Mine, one of the largest and most technologically advanced high-quality iron ore producing areas in Australia, was put into production in May, which will enhance the overall grade of iron ore produced by the Group's Western Australia mine. In the same month, the Ruby project in Trinidad and Tobago was also put into production. The third phase of the Atlantis project in the Gulf of Mexico and the expansion project of the Spencer copper mine in Chile began production in the first half of this year.

BHP Billiton is maintaining good momentum. Our business is sound, our operation is good, and we will continue to maintain a strict and orderly capital allocation and actively adjust our asset portfolio to meet the general trend of decarbonization and emission reduction, electrification and population growth. "