THE terms of an independent review of BHP Billiton Iron Ore health and safety practices will be in place by the end of this week or early next week, according to the State Government.
TRADE relations between Western Australia and China have been boosted by this week's announcement by BHP Billiton of a 25-year $11.6 billion ($US9 billion) deal with four of China's largest steel producers.
BHP Billiton's definitive feasibility study for its proposed $945 million Ravensthorpe nickel project has been extended past this quarter until mid-year.
THE cost of BHP's disastrous experi-ment with mineral sands in WA's South West has blown out to as much as $300 million, as big clean-up expenses have been added to the huge capital lost in the short-lived project.