Acquisition

Anglo American PLC
4 October 2000


                              ANGLO AMERICAN PLC
                              ('Anglo American')
                                       
                                 BILLITON PLC
                                 ('Billiton')

                           GLENCORE INTERNATIONAL AG
                                 ('Glencore')
                                       

4 October 2000, London


CONSORTIUM ACQUIRES 50% OF COLOMBIA'S CERREJON ZONA NORTE COAL MINE

A  consortium comprising (in equal parts) Anglo American plc, Billiton Plc and
Glencore International AG has successfully bid for the Colombian government's 
50%share  of  the  Cerrejon  Zona Norte coal operation situated  in  the 
Guajira Department  in  north eastern Colombia. The mine is expected to 
produce  18.5 million  tonnes of export quality steam coal during 2000.  The
bid was submitted on 3 October and complied with all the conditions set out in
the privatisation process. The consortium  submitted  an  offer  of
Col$849,555 billion (approximately  US$384  million), which is subject to
certain  adjustments  at closing.

The  consortium  becomes  a  joint venture partner of  Intercor,  the  company
responsible  for  the management of the complex.  Intercor is  a  wholly-owned
subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation of the United States.

The  consortium's participation in this process affirms the commitment of  the
three  companies  involved to participate in and develop  the  Colombian  coal
industry with the objective of consolidating and enhancing its position in the
international coal market.


Enquiries:

Anglo American :
London: Nick von Schirnding                  Johannesburg:  Anne Dunn
Tel:  [phone]                       Tel:   [phone]
Fax: [phone]                        Fax:  [phone]
                                             Mob: [phone]
Billiton :
London:  Marc Gonsalves                      Johannesburg:  Michael Campbell
Tel:  [phone]                       Tel:   [phone]
Fax:  [phone]                       Fax:  [phone]
Mob:  [phone]                       Mob: [phone]

Glencore:
Lotti Grenacher
Tel:   [phone]
Fax:  [phone]