Reduces Copper Production

BHP Billiton Limited
8 November 2001


    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:  8 November 2001

Number: 31/01



BHP BILLITON BASE METALS REDUCES COPPER PRODUCTION

BHP Billiton Base Metals today announced its intention to temporarily reduce
copper production by an estimated 170,000 tonnes per annum. The reductions
will occur from the Escondida and Tintaya operations in South America.

The action has been taken in response to the current serious fall in demand
for copper  arising from unfavourable global economic conditions.

President of BHP Billiton Base Metals Brad Mills said the announcement
demonstrates Base Metals' commitment to managing its resources for the
long-term benefit of shareholders and other stakeholders.

'Notwithstanding the relative efficiency of our world class portfolio of
copper assets, our decision is a response to the significant decline in market
demand.  In the current environment of rapidly rising inventories it makes no
sense to produce copper for which there are no end-users of the metal.
Combined LME/Comex stocks are at 940,000 tonnes and growing.'

Production at the Escondida copper operation in Chile will be reduced,
effective immediately, by 10 per cent, which is equivalent to approximately
80,000 tonnes per annum. At the Tintaya operations in southern Peru, total
sulphide production will be curtailed, effective       8 January 2002,
removing an additional 90,000 tonnes per annum.

At Escondida, the grade of ore fed to the concentrator will be lowered by
selective mining and a lower cut-off grade during the period of production
curtailment.  Higher grade ore will be reserved for processing when market
conditions improve.

Mr Mills added: ' The impact of the decision to reduce production will be
reviewed at the end of the fiscal year. If better market conditions exist, we
will resume previous production levels. Alternatively, if market conditions
deteriorate further, we would consider maintaining production cuts, or further
decreasing production.

'The Escondida Phase IV development and construction of the Tintaya oxide
plant will continue as planned. BHP Billiton remains fully committed to
realising the potential of its extensive portfolio of low-cost development
opportunities, most notably, the Escondida Phase IV expansion, sulphide leach
development and the development of the Escondida Norte resource base.
Escondida has the potential to add over 450,000 tonnes per annum of new
production at a cash cost of less than US$0.40/lb.'

Attempts are being made to minimise the impact of the production cutbacks on
employees, communities and other stakeholders during this period.

The cuts in production are not expected to materially impact the financial
results of the BHP Billiton Group.

The BHP Billiton Group holds a 57.5 per cent interest in Escondida.  The other
owners are affiliates of Rio Tinto Plc (30 per cent), Mitsubishi Corporation
(6 per cent), Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (2 per cent), Nippon Mining and
Metals Company Limited (2 per cent) and the International Finance Corporation
(2.5 per cent). The BHP Billiton Group holds a 99 per cent interest in Tintaya, 
the remaining interest is held by Peruvian shareholders.

Two teleconferences will be held on Friday November 9 :

         Conference £1 Melbourne       10.00am Australian Eastern Summer Time
                      (London          11.00pm)
                      (New York        6.00pm)

          Conference £2 London         10.00am
                       (South Africa   12.00midday)
                       (New York        5.00am)



                                     ****

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

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

Ariane Gentil, Manager Communications      Mandy Frostick, Media Relations
Tel: [phone]                      Tel: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                   Mobile: [phone]
email: [e-mail]     email: [e-mail]
                                        
United States
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations
Tel: [phone]         Mobile: [phone]
email: [e-mail]

BHP Billiton Limited                    BHP Billiton Plc 
ABN 49 004 028 077                      Registration number 3196209
Registered in Australia                 Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: 600 Bourke Street    Registered Office: 1-3 Strand London
Melbourne Victoria 3000                 WC2N 5HA United Kingdom
Telephone [phone]               Telephone [phone] 
Facsimile [phone]               Facsimile [phone]

             The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia

                       COPPER PRODUCTION TELECONFERENCE

Following BHP Billiton Base Metal's announcement of a planned reduction in its
copper production, we invite you to participate in a teleconference involving
BHP Billiton Base Metal's senior management - Brad Mills, President Base
Metals; Ken Pickering, President & Chief Development Officer and Bruce Turner,
President, Minera Escondida Ltda.

The teleconference will provide details on the strategic rationale for the
reduction in copper production and the opportunity to ask questions of the
Base Metals' senior management.

Two teleconferences will be held.  Details of the times are provided below.
Call in arrangements are provided on the following pages:


       Teleconference £1

       Thursday 8 November

       New York  6.00 pm

       London    11.00 pm

       Friday 9 November

       Melbourne/Sydney  10.00am



       Teleconference £2

       Friday 9 November

       New York 5.00 am

       London 10.00am

       South Africa 12.00pm

       Melbourne/Sydney 9.00pm



A recording of Teleconference £1 will be available for playback on the
following numbers, approximately one hour after completion of Teleconference £
1.

Australia: 1800 655 401                  International: 61 3 9414 6837

Please note the playback facility is only available through the phone numbers
listed above.

For further information, please contact Lina Alifraco on [phone] or
e-mail [e-mail]

Yours sincerely,

Robert Porter

Vice President Investor Relations & Communication







                                                                   ConferLinka

                     Participants Call-In Reference Guide

                       'BHP Billiton TeleConference £1'

                         Question Queuing Conference



Date:                                           09/11/01  Friday



Start Time:                           10:00 AM Melbourne time

                                      (6.00pm US)

                                      (8.00pm Chile)

                                      (11.00pm UK)                              
                                      (1.00am South Africa)

                                      (7.00am Singapore & Hong Kong)

                                      (8.00am Japan)



Reservation number:               2748075

Your  Call-In numbers are:      1800 686 443 (Australia)

                                 USA           1800 2767498

                                 UK            0800 8566164

                                 Singapore     800 6161711

                                 Japan         0053 1610035

                                 HongKong      800 900197

                                 All Others    + 61 3 9290 0968



REMEMBER:  To participate in a ConferLink Question Queuing conference, you
will need a touchtone phone.

-                 To register a question                  press*1

-                 To cancel your question                 press*2

-                 For help during the conference          press*0

*        Approximately 10-15 minutes before the scheduled time, please dial
your Call-in number.

*        You will be greeted by a conference administrator who will note your
name and telephone number.  You may be asked to test your telephone to ensure
that you will be able to register questions.  You will then be placed on hold
music until the conference is due to commence.

*        At the start of the conference your line will be taken off hold music
and you will be placed in Listen only (mute) mode.

*        If at any time during the conference you wish to ask a question or
make a comment, press (*1) to register your question.  If you decide to cancel
your question at any time press (*2). Your questions and the answers will be
heard by all parties on the conference.  When you have finished asking your
questions and received answers you will be placed back in Listen only mode.

*        If you are disconnected for any reason during the conference redial
your Call-in number.

*        At the end of the conference, the presenter will inform you that the
conference has concluded.





PHONE:     [phone]

FAX:           [phone]

EMAIL:    [e-mail]



                                                                   ConferLinka

Participants Call-In Reference Guide

                       'BHP Billiton Teleconference £2'

                         Question Queuing Conference

Date:                                           09/11/01  Friday

Start Time:                           10:00 AM London

                                      12:00 noon South Africa

                                     (5.00am US)

                                     (7.00am Chile)

                                     (6.00pm Singapore & Hong Kong)

                                     (7.00pm Japan)

                                     (9.00pm Melbourne)

Reservation number:               2748352

Your Call-In number is:            + 61 3 9290 0961 (International)

Or Freecall for these countries:

                                  USA             1800 2767498

                                  UK              0800 8566164

                                  Singapore       800 6161711

                                  Japan           0053 1610035

                                  HongKong        800 900197

                                  Australia       1800 686 443

REMEMBER:  To participate in a ConferLink Question Queuing conference, you
will need a touchtone phone.

-                 To register a question                        press*1

-                 To cancel your question                       press*2

-                 For help during the conference               press*0

*        Approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled time, please dial your
Call-in number.

*        You will be greeted by a conference administrator who will note your
name and telephone number.  You may be asked to test your telephone to ensure
that you will be able to register questions.  You will then be placed on hold
music until the conference is due to commence.

*        At the start of the conference your line will be taken off hold music
and you will be placed in Listen only (mute) mode.

*        If at any time during the conference you wish to ask a question or
make a comment, press (*1) to register your question.  If you decide to cancel
your question at any time press (*2). Your questions and the answers will be
heard by all parties on the conference.  When you have finished asking your
questions and received answers you will be placed back in Listen only mode.

*        If you are disconnected for any reason during the conference redial
your Call-in number.

*        At the end of the conference, the presenter will inform you that the
conference has concluded.


PHONE:     [phone]

FAX:           [phone]

EMAIL:    [e-mail]