Resume Mining At Tintaya

BHP Billiton Limited
12 August 2003

     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                 12 August 2003
Number               28/03

                    BHP BILLITON TO RESUME MINING AT TINTAYA



BHP Billiton today announced that it will re-start sulphide mining operations at
its Tintaya copper mine in southern Peru during August. This follows the
approval of a new mine plan and a review of projected copper market conditions.
Shipments of copper concentrates from Tintaya are expected to recommence in
early calendar 2004. Production from Tintaya was originally curtailed in January
2002 due to rising global copper inventory levels and a belief that reducing
production during this period of low demand would enhance the long-term value of
BHP Billiton's copper business.

Brad Mills, President, BHP Billiton Base Metals said, 'The new mine plan at
Tintaya will reduce operating costs to a level that makes it very competitive in
the global copper industry. We believe the demand fundamentals of the copper
market are improving such that metal produced from Tintaya's concentrate
production will be needed by the second quarter of next year, when the first
refined metal becomes available.'

Tintaya is capable of producing 90,000 tonnes of copper contained in concentrate
per annum. It is currently producing 34,000 tonnes of copper cathode per annum
from its oxide SX-EW operations.


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

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