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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Date of
31 December 2003BHP Billiton Limited
ABN 49 004 028 077
180 Lonsdale
Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000
Australia
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by
furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the
information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the
file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
Form 20-F
X
Form 40-F
Yes
No
X
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Date |
31 December 2003 |
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Number |
41/03 |
BHP BILLITON SETTLES PIPELINE LITIGATION
BHP Billiton today announced that it was part of a consortium that had reached a settlement with Dalmine SpA with respect to a claim brought against Dalmine in April 1998. The claim followed the failure of an underwater pipeline installed subsea in 1994 in the Liverpool Bay area of the UK continental shelf. The pipeline failed in 1996, two months after being commissioned.
The terms of the settlement provide that a total of Pounds 108 million is to be paid to the consortium.
BHP Billiton is a 46.1% shareholder in the Liverpool Bay development.
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: http://www.bhpbilliton.com
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Australia Tel: +61 3 9609 3952 email: Andrew.W.Nairn@bhpbilliton.com |
United Kingdom Tel: +44 20 7802 4156 email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com |
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Tania Price, Media Relations United States Tel: +1 713 961 8625 Mobile: +1 713 480 3699 email: Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com |
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BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 Registered Office: Level 27, 180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Telephone +61 1300 554 757 Facsimile +61 3 9609 3015 |
BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom Telephone +44 20 7802 4000 Facsimile +44 20 7802 4111 |
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The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BHP BILLITON LIMITED
/s/ KAREN WOOD
_____________________
Karen Wood
Title: Company Secretary
Date: