The proposed refinery site is approximately 100km inland from Kamsar and has the benefit of access to existing rail infrastructure linking it to the Port of Kamsar, where dedicated facilities are already under construction.

"This project provides the Joint Venture partners with access to a long life, low cost, world class resource base and represents an excellent opportunity for BHP Billiton to continue to grow its business in a value accretive manner" commented Graeme Hunt, President Aluminium for BHP Billiton.

"In view of BHP Billiton's other exploration interests in Guinea, this project also offers us valuable experience of operating in this first tier minerals province," he added.

As part of the agreement, BHP Billiton will appoint the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Joint Venture Company (JVC) and will enter into a services agreement with the JVC for the development, construction and operation of the project, which will be operated in accordance with BHP Billiton standards.

Global Alumina will now hold a 33.3 per cent equity interest in the Sangaredi Refinery Project, Dubai Aluminium Company Limited a 25 per cent interest and Mubadala Development Company PJSC 8.3 per cent.

I, Dominique Louis Butty, a director of Butty Herinckx & Partners geological and mining consultants, am a member of the European Federation of Geologists and have sufficient experience which is relevant to the Sangaredi Refinery Project style of mineralisation and type of deposit and to the estimation of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. I, Dominique Louis Butty consent to the inclusion of the Sangaredi Refinery Project Mineral Resources in the BHP Billiton Global Alumina press release, in the form and context in which it appears.