Number 41/03

BHP Billiton today announced that it was part of a consortium that had reached a settlement with Dalmine SpA with respect to a claim brought against Dalmine in April 1998. The claim followed the failure of an underwater pipeline installed subsea in 1994 in the Liverpool Bay area of the UK continental shelf.  The pipeline failed in 1996, two months after being commissioned.

The terms of the settlement provide that a total of £108 million is to be paid to the consortium.

BHP Billiton is a 46.1% shareholder in the Liverpool Bay development.

For further information please contact:

Australia
Andrew Nairn, Investor Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952
email: Andrew.W.Nairn@bhpbilliton.com

Tania Price, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3815
email: Tania.Price@bhpbilliton.com

United Kingdom
Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +44 20 7802 4156
email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com

United States
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations
Tel: +1 713 961 8625  Mobile: +1 713 480 3699
email: Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com