Signs LNG Sales with Kyushu

BHP Billiton Limited
26 April 2002

     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.





26 April 2002
Number 24/02



              BHP BILLITON SIGNS LNG SALES AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                              WITH KYUSHU ELECTRIC



BHP Billiton, together with the other participants in the North West Shelf
Venture, today signed Sales and Purchase Agreements with Kyushu Electric Power
Co. Inc. for the purchase and supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the
North West Shelf (NWS) in Western Australia.



The agreement was covers the supply of 0.5 million tonnes of LNG per annum
(mtpa) for a long-term period starting in 2006. Kyushu is an existing long-term
customer of NWS LNG and Japan's fourth largest power utility.



The agreement with Kyushu Electric follows the Letter of Intent (LOI) signed in
March 2001, and is the third in a series of Sales and Purchase Agreements to be
signed for supply of LNG from the North West Shelf Venture's LNG expansion
project.



The project includes a fourth LNG processing train at the Venture's gas
processing facilities on the Burrup Peninsula, Western Australia, and a second
trunkline from the North Rankin platform to shore. First LNG from the fourth
train is scheduled for mid-2004.



The agreement with Kyushu Electric is the latest in several recent agreements
with other Japanese customers, these being:



•        A Letter of Intent with Tohoku Electric Co. Ltd. on 5 February 2001 for
         0.4 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG, starting 2005;

•        A Key Terms Agreement with Shell Gas and Power on 15 May 2001 for the
         supply of up to 3.7 million tonnes of LNG over five years;

•        A Key Terms Agreement with Chubu Electric Power Company Inc. of Japan
         on 3 August 2001 for 0.6 mtpa of LNG, starting 2009;

•        A Sales and Purchase Agreement with Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd and Toho Gas Co.
         Ltd of Japan on 25 October 2001 for the purchase and supply of 1.37 
         mtpa of LNG starting in 2004, and

•        A Sales and Purchase Agreement with Osaka Gas Co. Ltd on 11 March 2002
         for the supply of 1 mtpa of LNG, starting in 2004.



Last year BHP Billiton announced approval for a fourth train expansion of the
LNG facilities at the North West Shelf Project in Western Australia.



BHP Billiton's equity in the North West Shelf Project is 16.67 per cent. The
other participants are Woodside Energy Ltd (operator - 16.67 per cent); BP
Developments Australia Pty Ltd (16.67 per cent); Chevron Australia Pty Ltd
(16.67 per cent); Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) Pty Ltd (16.67 per cent); and Shell
Development (Australia) Proprietary Limited (16.67 per cent).



Further news and information can be found on our Internet site:
www.bhpbilliton.com

Australia                                                 United Kingdom/South Africa
Dr. Robert Porter, Investor Relations                     Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: + 61 3 9609 3540  Mobile: [phone]            Tel: [phone]  Mobile: [phone]
email: [e-mail]                      email: [e-mail]


Mandy Frostick, Media Relations                           Ariane Gentil, Manager Communications
Tel: [phone]  Mobile: [phone]             Tel: [phone]  Mobile: + 44 7881 518 715
email: [e-mail]                   email: [e-mail]


United States
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations
Tel: [phone]  Mobile: [phone]
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: 600 Bourke Street Melbourne Victoria    Registered Office: 1-3 Strand London WC2N 5HA United Kingdom
3000                                                       Telephone [phone] Facsimile [phone]
Telephone [phone] Facsimile [phone]

              The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia





                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange