* Port Hedland outer harbour will help output double
* Final investment decision expected later this year
* Approval contingent on protection for dugongs, turtles,
whales
CANBERRA, May 31 (Reuters) – BHP Billiton
on Thursday cleared the last external hurdle for a planned $10
billion expansion of its Port Hedland harbour in Western
Australia that would help the world’s biggest miner double
output of iron ore.
BHP won environmental approval from the federal government
for the project, clearing the way for the Anglo-Australian miner
to make a final investment decision on the Port Hedland outer
harbour project in the Pilbara region later this year.
The expansion is one of the top three projects BHP has
outlined in an $80-billion capital spending plan, and is seen as
the one most likely to go ahead, even as the company pares
spending due to global uncertainty and shareholder jitters.
“In terms of the timing for project approvals, that hasn’t
changed from what we’ve been saying — the second half of this
calendar year and still very much subject to board approval,” a
BHP spokeswoman said.
“Today’s decision doesn’t change that. It just really means
we’ve met all the regulatory processes.”
Earlier this month, BHP Chairman Jacques Nasser said the
company was rethinking its expansion plans “everyday” and
wouldn’t spend the full $80 billion over five years as outlined
by Chief Executive Marius Kloppers in 2011.
Continued…
