Integrate Sth Blackwater Mine

BHP Limited
15 December 2000


Date         15 December 2000
Number       114/00

BHP, MITSUBISHI & QRL ANNOUNCE INTEGRATION PLANS FOR SOUTH BLACKWATER MINE 
       
BHP Limited (BHP), Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd (Mitsubishi) and QCT
Resources Limited (QRL) today announced a range of proposed integration
activities following a detailed due diligence exercise undertaken after the
acquisition of QRL by MetCoal Holdings (Qld) Pty Limited (MetCoal, a company
owned equally by BHP and Mitsubishi), in November 2000.

The integration plans are consistent with the intentions of the parties as
described in the MetCoal Bidder's Statement and will result in the
establishment of a more competitive mining operation. Most notably, they will
enable the current production from the South Blackwater and Blackwater Mines
to be more efficiently delivered to the market and will provide customers with
an enhanced and more reliable service.

After examining the various options available, the parties have decided that: 

- South Blackwater's Laleham underground mine will be closed by the end of  
February 2001 because of limited economic reserves and high production costs.

- South Blackwater's Kenmare underground mine will complete development of
three panels in the upper seam by March 2001. Longwall mining of these panels
is expected to be completed by the end of 2001, when Kenmare will be closed
due to geological constraints.

- The South Blackwater open cut operations will be combined with those of the
CQCA Blackwater mine to produce an estimated 13.5 million tonnes of coking and
thermal coal a year.

- QRL's Brisbane corporate office will be closed.

Coal sales will be maintained at current levels to meet existing customer
expectations and commitments. This will be achieved by maintaining a secure
supply of high quality coal through the continued operation of South
Blackwater's open cut operations, and by increasing production from the CQCA
Blackwater mine. A cost benefit analysis is being finalised to identify the
most effective means of integrating the operations. The combined mining
operation will be one of Australia's largest and most efficient coal mines. 

The new combined mine operations will require a workforce of approximately 550
people, including up to 300 involved in mining activities, 125 in maintenance
and 95 in the coal processing area, plus administration staff . This will
result in a net reduction of about 205 employees over a 12 month period.

Chief Executive Officer of QCT Resources Limited, Mr John Smith, said: 'The
reduction in workforce numbers is regrettable, but unavoidable considering the
outlook for the underground operations. Opportunities will be available for
affected employees to be selected and trained for permanent positions in the
expanded open cut operations, while those leaving the operations will be
assisted through this difficult period with career and personal counseling.'

QRL will engage BHP Coal Pty Ltd, manager of the CQCA joint venture, for the
management of South Blackwater operations and marketing of all coal out of the
new integrated Blackwater operations.

Commenting on today's announcement, Chief Executive Officer of BHP Minerals,
Mr Ron McNeilly, said: 'These integration plans represent an important step in
achieving the consolidation that is required in Queensland to ensure that
competitive, world class mining operations are established which are able to
meet customer requirements well into the future.'

Also commenting on the announcement, Mitsubishi Managing Director, Mr Kenjiro
Itadani, said: 'This concludes an important stage of our joint acquisition
with BHP; it's gratifying that the outcome is in line with our initial
expectations and we would like to thank our customers and other stakeholders
for their ongoing support.'

For further information please contact:

BHP Media
Ian Dymock Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
BHP Queensland Coal 
Phone:  [phone]  Mobile:  [phone]

Mandy Frostick Manager 
Media Relations
Phone: [phone] Mobile: [phone]

Investment Market
Robert Porter
Vice President Investor Relations
Phone: [phone] Mobile:  [phone]

Mitsubishi
Robert Campese
Manager General Affairs
Phone: [phone]

QCT Resources
Mark McKeon
Company Secretary
Phone: [phone]