Number 37/04

BHP Billiton today announced it has agreed to sell its interests in the Laminaria and Corallina oil fields to Paladin Oil & Gas (Australia) Pty Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Paladin Resources plc, an independent oil and gas company listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The purchase price is US$150 million effective as at 1 July 2004, and is subject to adjustments for working capital and cash flow movements between 1 July 2004 and completion.

The sale of BHP Billiton’s interests in the Laminaria and Corallina oil fields is part of the Company’s active portfolio management strategy. Following a review, BHP Billiton’s interests in the fields were identified as being non-core to BHP Billiton’s future petroleum strategy.

The Laminaria and neighbouring Corallina oil fields were discovered in 1994 and 1995 respectively, and are located in the Timor Sea, about 550km west-north-west of Darwin, in offshore production licences AC/L5 and WA-18-L.

The fields were developed with a Floating Production Storage and Offloading facility, the Northern Endeavour, which is moored between the two oil fields in 385 metres of water.  Oil production from Laminaria and Corallina commenced in November 1999, and a second phase of development commenced production in June 2002. The facility is operated by Woodside Energy Ltd.

The sale to Paladin is subject to the pre-emptive rights of joint venture participants, and formal government approvals. The transaction is expected to be completed in early 2005.

BHP Billiton has a 32.6125 per cent interest in Laminaria. The other participants are Woodside Energy Ltd (operator – 44.925 per cent) and Shell Development (Australia) Proprietary Limited (22.4625 per cent). The Laminaria field is unitised over licences AC/L5 and WA-18-L.

BHP Billiton has a 25 per cent interest in Corallina. The other participants are Woodside Energy Ltd (operator– 50 per cent) and Shell Development (Australia) Proprietary Limited (25 per cent).

For further information please contact:

Australia
Jane Belcher, Investor Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952  Mobile: +61 417 031 653
email: Jane.H.Belcher@bhpbilliton.com

Tania Price, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3815  Mobile: +61 419 152 780
email: Tania.Price@bhpbilliton.com

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

Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: +44 20 7802 4177  Mobile: +44 78 81 51 8715
email: Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com

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

South Africa
Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +27 11 376 3360  Mobile: +27 82 458 2587
email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com