Appr IO Capacity Exp Proj

BHP Billiton Limited
05 February 2004

     BHP Billiton Limited is issuing this announcement to fulfil disclosure
  obligations arising from its secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange.

    The text of this release is identical to that issued by BHP Billiton Plc
                                    earlier.


Date                 5 February 2004
Number               07/04


                    BHP BILLITON APPROVES IRON ORE CAPACITY

                               EXPANSION PROJECT


BHP Billiton today announced the approval of a significant brownfields expansion
project in its Western Australian iron ore business.

Capacity at the Pilbara iron ore operations will be increased from 100 million
tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to 110Mtpa by the end of CY2004. The capital cost for
the project is expected to be US$111 million (BHPB share US$94.5 million).

President Carbon Steel Materials Bob Kirkby said: 'BHP Billiton is currently
completing studies for further long term expansions of its Western Australian
iron ore business.

'In the interim, this project will ensure that BHP Billiton continues to meet
the unprecedented rate of growth in demand for iron ore through a timely and
capital efficient expansion,' he said.

The BHP Billiton Iron Ore Rapid Growth Project will be completed on the back of
infrastructure and equipment installed as part of the Area C and PACE projects
and includes increased Area C plant capacity to 23Mtpa plus additional rail and
port capacity.

Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: http://www.bhpbilliton.com

Australia                                                     United Kingdom
Andrew Nairn, Investor Relations                              Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: [phone]                                          Tel: [phone]
email: [e-mail]                         email: [e-mail]

Tania Price, Media Relations                                  Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]                  Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
email: [e-mail]                            email: [e-mail]

United States                                                 South Africa
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations                        Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]                  Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
email: [e-mail]                   email: [e-mail]


BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077                     BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209
Registered in Australia                                     Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: Level 27, 180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne  Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH United
Victoria 3000                                               Kingdom
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                                    The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia


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