BHPB alumina up
8th Feb 2012
MELBOURNE, Feb 8 - BHP Billiton says alumina sales volumes increased in the December half year based on expanded capacity at the Alumar refinery (Brazil) and high performance by its smelters in southern Africa and Brazil.
Underlying EBIT was a loss of $67M due to rising cost pressures exceeding a modest improvement in realised prices. Initial production from the $3B (BHP share) Worsley Efficiency and Growth project (Australia) in the March 2012 quarter will raise capacity by 1.1Mtpa to 4.6Mtpa.
Base metals declined despite strong recovery in copper volumes as lower grades and industrial activity hit Escondida (Chile). Completion of the Escondida main pit Ore Access project will lift production significantly beyond the 2012 financial year.
Record mining rates at Pampa Norte (Chile) and Antamina (Peru) followed mining fleet expansions. Record milling rates were achieved at Cannington (Australia) and Antamina.
Underlying EBIT fell by $1.9B to $1.6B due mainly to lower production and realised prices.
Pre-commitment expenditure of $1.2B for the first phase of the Olympic Dam Project was activated.
Diamond production was lower as EKATI (Canada) production remains constrained by the extraction of lower grade material.
Underlying EBIT declined by $135M to $86M despite stronger diamond and titanium prices. The review of BHP’s diamonds business announced in the December quarter could continue through the first half of 2012.
In potash, significant progress continues at Jansen (Canada). Following completion of the freeze plant, ground freezing is underway and excavation has commenced for the production and service shafts.
Also in the February 1 - 7, 2012 edition
- AFRICA
- Avocet cashed-up for expansion
- Rediscovering their Moto
- ASIA DESK
- Seeing some light in uranium gloom
- Steeled with renewed optimism
- CENTRAL ASIA
- Coal could power wider search
- COAL
- Farm conundrum grows for NSW miners
- Queensland minnows feel squeeze
- Strategic Cropping Land arrives
- Time to deliver for Cockatoo
- CONSULTING
- Consulting briefs: Itasca, Coffey, Xstract
- EXPLORATION
- Bell focus turns to Nigeria
- FINANCE
- Time to bet on red
- FROM THE CAPITAL
- Markets need to re-define what they mean by normal
- GOLD
- It’s an Olympic year: go for gold
- HEAVY METAL
- Heavy metal briefs: Sandvik, Caterpillar
- Komatsu's mining lift
- INTERCEPTS
- Alcoa smelter woes
- Allied moves to douse rumour
- Alpha Natural coal cutback
- AP to buy Patagonia
- Aphrodite scoping positive
- Bannerman secures DFS funds
- Beacon's Barlee boost
- BHPB profit falls
- Bilbao extension for Minco
- Blackgold posts resource
- Bligh partner talks
- Bokoni rejig
- Brimstone to pay for Penny's
- Centamin backs Nyota
- Chinalco extends Qld copper search
- CMD signs good for Lachlan
- CoAL welcomes Chapudi entry
- Copper One looks to resource
- Coppermoly advances PNG prospects
- Cuesta reports East Wandoan resource
- Downer confirms Karara win
- Dragon to speed work at Kuusamo
- Dugbe Shear hopes rise
- East Coast increases Wolfsberg potential
- ECR welcomes met results
- Eldorado wins independent support
- Exxaro says profit will jump
- First gold for Siana
- FMG awards software contract
- Franco-Nevada buys into gold complex
- Gascoyne starts Glenburgh study
- Glencore, Xstrata just chatting
- Globe to increase Memba stake
- Gulf ready to pounce
- Gunson looks to advance Coburn
- Harmony sounds higher profit note
- Hastings advances
- Higginsville lift for Alacer
- High grades for Sunrise at Derryginagh
- Hollister near 100,000ozpa
- Horizonte secures Brazil nickel
- Hot rock team formed
- IMX encouraged by Tomahawk results
- Indo completes Rajawali placement
- Iron ore record for giant
- Jatenergy starts Indo coal mine
- Kentor to fire up Murchison
- Kibali construction ready
- Kono sampling encouragement
- Kumtor struck down
- La Colorada lifts VANE
- Lake Victoria restarts Tanzania work
- Leopard spots opportunity
- Magma partner
- Mambare promise
- Merger to have sequels
- Mindoro's Pan de Azucar breakthrough
- More Deflector attention
- More ground for Forte
- No way through for Pathfinder
- Northam profit lift
- OM signs Sarawak power deal
- Optimism rises
- Ox must pay, with interest
- Palabora profit rises
- PanTerra starts drilling in Ecuador
- Peak looks for Ngualla control
- Pershimco extends placement
- Pilot drilling lifts Black Fire hopes
- Rain costs more Whitehaven output
- Rain dampens BHPB coal result
- Ramelius expands WA holdings
- Red Rock's Resource Star support
- Rio lifts iron ore spend
- Rustenburg trouble deepens
- SAG repairs boost CGA
- San Gold lifts SGX holding
- Sheffield sets Irwin target
- Silvercorp hits at short sellers
- Talk spurs Jaguar run
- Taruga debuts
- Taruga to make quick start
- Thiess wins more BHPB work
- Vane points to porphyry copper
- Wah clears to Brockman
- Waratah starts Youkou drilling
- Western Desert builds DSO base
- Xstrata posts $US5.8B profit
- Yeneena funding looking good
- Yuinmery resource in sight
- MINING
- Lougher may open up M&A vista
- MINING INTELLIGENCE
- ASIC, I fear it is now up to you
- MINING IT
- CAE Mining revenue up
- Growth at a price
- IT notebook: FEI, Itasca, Mincom
- PEOPLE
- Six dollar samples, 20c schooners and $1 apps
- PROJECT WATCH
- Nena edges ahead