BHP Billiton Continues $12 Billion in Projects and Adheres to Existing Business Strategies Entering 2009, an Industrial Info News Alert

SUGAR LAND, TX, Dec 03, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas) -- Despite the economic meltdown and cost pressures facing companies worldwide, mining giant BHP Billiton maintains the view that it will be relatively less affected than its peers, CEO Marius Kloppers said at the company's recent annual general meeting. The confidence comes from BHP's long-standing strategy of focusing on assets that are low cost, long life and expandable, as well as in the diversification of commodities, geography and customer, he said. Therefore, BHP's strategy will remain unchanged into 2009, he said. Industrial Info is tracking 15 active BHP projects totaling more than $12 billion. The projects are spread across the world, from Australia to South Africa to Chile. About half of the projects in the International Project Database are expansions ranging from $30 million to $1.5 billion.