Force Majeure @ Boodarie Iron

BHP Billiton Limited
26 March 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 March 2002

Number: 18/02



BHP BILLITON DECLARES FORCE MAJEURE AT BOODARIE IRON



BHP Billiton today advised that it had declared 'force majeure' on sales
contracts and some supply contracts at the Boodarie Iron Plant in north Western
Australia.



Production at the plant has been suspended since 12 March 2002 following a tube
failure in a gas re-heating furnace. Nobody was injured in the incident (which
occurred on only one production train) and all four trains were shut down
pending an investigation into the cause of the failure.



Safety of personnel is the paramount consideration at all BHP Billiton
operations and for this reason production will not resume until the detailed
investigation and necessary rectification work is completed. Declaration of '
force majeure' will minimise cash flow losses during this period.



BHP Billiton is working with customers, suppliers and contractors to minimise
disruptions and will provide further information when it becomes available.
Plans to demobilise a large portion of the casual contractor workforce following
the completion of technical modifications have also been brought forward and
will be implemented immediately.



Recent performance of the Boodarie Iron plant had been within the forecast band
for ramp-up.



                                      ****

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


Australia                                                 United Kingdom/South Africa
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Francis McAllister, Investor Relations
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