BHP Billiton announced today the appointment of Mahomed Seedat as President Energy Coal. In this role Mr Seedat will have responsibility for BHP Billiton's domestic and export thermal coal businesses. BHP Billiton is one of the largest producers and marketers of export thermal coal and has interests in operations in South Africa, North America, South America and Australia. Mr Seedat will be based in Johannesburg, South Africa and will report to Philip Aiken, Group President Energy.

Mr Seedat has more than 20 years experience in the minerals industry, most recently as the President and COO Ingwe, responsible for BHP Billiton's energy coal business in southern Africa, which consists of seven mines with total production exceeding 55 million tons per annum. From 2001 to 2004 Mr Seedat was President and COO of BHP Billiton's southern Africa aluminium business with full strategic and operational responsibility for the three aluminium smelters in South Africa and Mozambique. Prior to this he was the General Manager Hillside Aluminium, responsible for significantly improving production and decreasing costs, making Hillside amongst the lowest cost producers of aluminium in the world.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr Aiken said: "Mahomed's depth of technical experience and commercial focus, and his outstanding record as a leader of large and complex businesses, will serve him well in his new role as we further develop our energy coal business across the globe. "

Mr Seedat will take on his new responsibilities with immediate effect.

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

Mr Mahomed Seedat

Prior to his appointment as President Energy Coal, Mr Seedat served as President and COO of BHP Billiton's energy coal business in South Africa, which consists of seven mines with total production exceeding 55 million tons per annum. He was appointed a member of the BHP Billiton Executive Committee in May 2004.

From 2001 to 2004 as President & COO of BHP Billiton's Southern Africa aluminium business, Mr Seedat was responsible for the full strategic and operational responsibility for the three aluminium smelters in Southern Africa and Mozambique, which together produce approximately 1,400,000 tons of primary aluminium with a market value of US$1,250 million per annum.

From 1997 to 2001 he served as General Manager Hillside Aluminium, responsible for significantly improving production and decreasing costs, making Hillside amongst the lowest cost producers of aluminium in the world.

Mr Seedat started his career in the minerals industry in 1980. Mr Seedat serves as a member of the Engineering Council SA, Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Engineering Academy of South Africa.

Career

President and COO Ingwe 2004; President and COO Southern Africa Aluminium 2001-2004; General Manager Hillside Aluminium 1997-2001; Manager Maintenance, Hillside Aluminium 1996-1997; Assistant Engineering Manager/Manager Engineering 1994-1996; Electrical Engineering Manager Richards Bay Coal Terminal 1992-1994; 1980-1991 the following positions with Amcoal: Landau Project Engineer 1991; Electrical Services Colliery Engineer, 1988-1990; Underground Colliery Construction Engineer 1987-1988; Surface Services Colliery Engineer, 1986-1987; Instrumentation Engineer 1982-1986; Engineering Assistant 1981-1982; Graduate Junior Engineer 1980-1981.

Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, University of Durban-Westville, 1974-1979

Program in Management Development, Harvard Business School, 1990

Government Certificate Mines and Works

Management Development Program, UNISA

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