View source for Company:BHP

{{short description|Anglo-Australian multinational mining and petroleum company}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox company
| name                = BHP Group plc / BHP Group Limited
| logo                = BHP 2017 logo.svg
| logo_size           = 155px
| image               = BHP Tower Perth WA.jpg
| image_caption       = BHP Office Tower in Perth, Western Australia
| type                = [[Finance:Dual-listed company|Dual-listed public company]]
| traded_as           = {{lse|BHPL|isin=GB0000566504}}<br />{{nyse|BHP}}<br />{{nyse|BBL}}<br />{{asx|BHP}}<br />{{jse|BIL}}<br />S&P/ASX 200 Component<br />FTSE 100 Component
| area_served         = Worldwide
| key_people          = {{ubl|{{wd-chairperson}}|{{wd-ceo}}}}
| industry            = Metals and Mining
| products            = Iron ore, coal, petroleum, copper, natural gas, nickel & [[Chemistry:Uranium|uranium]]
| revenue             = {{decrease}} {{USD|42.931 billion|link=yes}} (2020)<ref name="ar">{{cite web |url=https://www.bhp.com/-/media/documents/investors/annual-reports/2020/200915_bhpannualreport2020.pdf|title=Annual Results 2020 |publisher=BHP|access-date=27 February 2020}}</ref>
| operating_income    = {{decrease}} {{USD|14.421 billion}} (2020)<ref name="ar"/>
| net_income          = {{decrease}} {{USD|8.736 billion}} (2020)<ref name="ar"/>
| assets              = {{increase}} {{USD|104.783 billion}} (2020)<ref name="ar"/>
| equity              = {{increase}} {{USD|47.936 billion}} (2020)<ref name="ar"/>
| num_employees       = 80,000 (2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bhp.com/our-approach/our-company/about-us/|title=About us|publisher=BHP|access-date=25 February 2021}}</ref>
| foundation          = Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP) 1885;<br />Billiton plc 1860;<br />Merger of BHP and Billiton, 2001 (creation of a DLC)
| location            = [[Place:Melbourne|Melbourne]], Australia<br /><small>(BHP Billiton Limited)</small><br />[[Place:London|London]], England<br /><small>(BHP Billiton plc)</small><ref name=structure>{{cite web |title=Global Headquarters |url=https://www.bhp.com/contact-us |website=BHP.com |access-date=26 July 2018}}</ref>
| homepage            = {{URL|http://www.bhp.com/}}
}}
[[File:BHP Billiton.png|thumb|The former BHP Billiton logo]]
'''BHP''', formerly known as '''BHP Billiton''', is the trading entity of '''BHP Group Limited''' and '''BHP Group plc''', an Anglo-Australian [[Finance:Multinational corporation|multinational]] mining, metals and petroleum [[Finance:Dual-listed company|dual-listed]] [[Finance:Public company|public company]] headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

The Broken Hill Proprietary Company was founded on 16 July 1885 in the mining town of Silverton, New South Wales.<ref>{{cite news |title=Silverton |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/6088837 |access-date=21 August 2020 |work=The Argus |date=30 July 1885 |location=Melbourne, Vic. |page=10}}</ref> By 2017, BHP was the world's largest mining company, based on market capitalisation,<ref>{{cite web |title=Leading mining companies worldwide based on market capitalization in 2018 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/272706/top-10-mining-companies-worldwide-based-on-market-value/ |website=[[Company:Statista|Statista]] |access-date=26 July 2018 |date=2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Els |first1=Frik |title=Top 50 mining companies reshuffle as Chinese, lithium firms climb rankings |url=http://www.mining.com/top-50-mining-companies-reshuffle-chinese-lithium-firms-climb-rankings/ |website=Mining.com |access-date=26 July 2018 |date=5 July 2017}}</ref> and was Melbourne's third-largest company by revenue.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Ben |last2=Simmons |first2=David |last3=Faint |first3=Paris |last4=Bonnell |first4=Yasmin |title=THE 2017 MELBOURNE TOP COMPANIES REVEALED: THE TOP 10 |url=https://www.businessnewsaus.com.au/articles/the-2017-melbourne-top-companies-revealed--the-top-10.html |access-date=26 July 2018 |work=Business News Australia |date=2 June 2017 |archive-date=28 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328125817/https://www.businessnewsaus.com.au/articles/the-2017-melbourne-top-companies-revealed--the-top-10.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

BHP Billiton was formed in 2001 through the merger of the Australian Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP) and the Anglo–Dutch Billiton plc,<ref name="merger">{{cite news |title=BHP-Billiton merger confirmed |work=ABC |date=19 March 2001 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/stories/s262552.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041124205710/http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/stories/s262552.htm |archive-date=24 November 2004}}</ref> forming a [[Finance:Dual-listed company|dual-listed company]]. The Australia-registered Limited has a primary listing on the [[Company:Australian Securities Exchange|Australian Securities Exchange]] and is one of the largest companies in Australia by market capitalisation. The English-registered plc arm has a primary listing on the [[Company:London Stock Exchange|London Stock Exchange]] and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

In 2015, some BHP Billiton assets were demerged and rebranded as South32, while a scaled-down BHP Billiton became BHP. In 2018, BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc became BHP Group Limited and BHP Group Plc, respectively. In the 2020 Forbes Global 2000, BHP Group was ranked as the 93rd-largest public company in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forbes Global 2000 | url= https://www.forbes.com/global2000/#39910f1b335d |access-date=31 October 2020}}</ref>

==History==
===Billiton===
[[File:Billiton logo.png|right|thumb|The former Billiton logo]]
Billiton was founded 29 September 1860, when its articles of association were approved by a meeting of [[Finance:Shareholder|shareholder]]s in the ''Groot Keizershof'' hotel in [[Place:The Hague|The Hague]], Netherlands.<ref name="history">{{cite web |url=http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bb/aboutUs/companyOverview/ourHistory/billitonHistory.jsp |title=Billiton History |website=BHPBilliton.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218154613/http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bb/aboutUs/companyOverview/ourHistory/billitonHistory.jsp| archive-date=18 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Womack|first=Tom|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2J4hCwAAQBAJ&q=Billiton+was+founded+29+September+1860&pg=PA314|title=The Allied Defense of the Malay Barrier, 1941-1942|date=2015-12-01|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-2267-5|language=en}}</ref> Two months later, the company acquired mineral rights to the Billiton (''Belitung'') and Bangka Islands in the Netherlands Indies [[Earth:Archipelago|archipelago]] off the eastern coast of Sumatra.<ref name="history"/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Somers Heidhues|first=Mary F.|title=Company Island: A Note on the History of Belitung|url=https://ecommons.cornell.edu/bitstream/handle/1813/53949/INDO_51_0_1106965317_1_20.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|access-date=29 June 2020|website=Cornell}}</ref>

Billiton's initial ventures included tin and lead [[Engineering:Smelting|smelting]] in the Netherlands, followed in the 1940s by [[Earth:Bauxite|bauxite]] mining in Indonesia and Suriname.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BsFFWlQ8RwEC&pg=PA887|title=Four Centuries of Dutch-American Relations: 1609-2009|first1=Hans |last1=Krabbendam|first2=Cornelis A. |last2=van Minnen|first3=Giles |last3=Scott-Smith|publisher=Suny Press|year=2009|isbn=978-1438430133|page=887}}</ref> In 1970, Shell acquired Billiton.<ref name="history"/><ref>{{Cite book|last=Cebon|first=Peter|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sRmHhCgNPXAC&q=In+1970,+Shell+acquired+Billiton&pg=PT107|title=Measured Success: Innovation Management in Australia|date=2008-07-15|publisher=Melbourne Univ. Publishing|isbn=978-0-522-85988-1|language=en}}</ref> Billiton opened a tin smelting and refining plant in Phuket, Thailand, named Thaisarco (for Thailand Smelting And Refining Company, Limited).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thaisarco.com/overview.html|title=Overview|publisher=Thaisarco|access-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313235000/http://www.thaisarco.com/overview.html|archive-date=13 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1994, South Africa's Gencor acquired the mining division of Billiton excluding the downstream metal division.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE1DF1E3EF934A15754C0A962958260 |title=Shell Unit Sells Assets To Gencor |work={{wipe|The New York Times}} |agency={{wipe|Bloomberg News}} |date=27 July 1994 |access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref> Billiton was divested from Gencor in 1997,<ref>{{cite news |first=Julie |last=Walker |url=http://www.btimes.co.za/97/0622/comp/comp.htm |title=Gencor pops champagne on achieving its ambitious global dream|work= Business Times |date=22 June 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927150152/http://www.btimes.co.za/97/0622/comp/comp.htm |archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref> and was amalgamated with [[Company:Gold Fields|Gold Fields]] in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/11/business/south-african-gold-giants-to-combine.html|title=South African Gold Giants to Combine|date=11 October 1997|work=The New York Times|access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> In 1997, Billiton plc became a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index<ref>{{Cite book|last=Coulson|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jyraAgAAQBAJ&q=bhp+billiton+ftse+100+1997&pg=PA162|title=An Insider's Guide to the Mining Sector: An In-Depth Study of Gold and Mining Shares|date=2008|publisher=Harriman House Limited|isbn=978-1-905641-55-0|language=en}}</ref> and in 2001 Billiton plc merged with the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP) to form BHP Billiton.<ref name="merger"/>

=== Broken Hill Proprietary Company ===
[[File:BHP Logo (vector).svg|thumb|The former Broken Hill Proprietary Company logo]]
The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP), also known by the nickname "the Big Australian",<ref>{{cite news |title=Shrinking 'The Big Australian': BHP write-downs top $A3B |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Shrinking+%27The+Big+Australian%27%3A+BHP+write-downs+top+%24A3B.-a021092804 |access-date=26 July 2018 |work=Engineering & Mining Journal |date=1 August 1998 |location=TheFreeLibrary.com}}</ref> was incorporated on 13 August 1885, operating the silver and lead mine at Broken Hill, in western New South Wales, Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gabr.net.au/biogs/ABE0041b.htm |title=The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Ltd (1885 – 2000) |website=Guide to Australian Business Records |access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | author=Wendy Lewis, Simon Balderstone and John Bowan | title=Events That Shaped Australia | page=79 | publisher=New Holland | year=2006 | isbn=978-1-74110-492-9 }}</ref> The Broken Hill group floated on 10 August 1885.<ref name="jay">Jay, Christopher. (1999) ''A Future More Prosperous: The History of Newcastle Steelworks 1912–1999'', The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, Newcastle. p. 30.</ref> The first consignment of Broken Hill ore (48 tons, 5 cwt, 3grs) was smelted at the Intercolonial Smelting and Refining Company's works at Spotswood, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne.<ref name="jay" /> Historian Christopher Jay notes:

<blockquote>The resulting 35,605 ounces of silver raised a lot of interest when exhibited at the City of Melbourne Bank in Collins Street Some sceptics asserted the promoters were merely using silver from somewhere else, to ramp up the shares.... Another shareholder, the dominating W. R. Wilson had had to lend William Jamieson, General Manager, a new suit so he could take the first prospectus, printed at Silverton near Broken Hill on 20 June 1885, to Adelaide to start the float process.<ref name="jay" /></blockquote>

The geographic Broken Hill, for which the town was named, was discovered and named by Captain Charles Sturt, stirring great interest among prospectors. Nothing of note was discovered until 5 November 1883, when Charles Rasp, boundary rider for the surrounding Mount Gipps Station, pegged out a 40-acre claim with contractors David James and James Poole.<ref>Coulls, A. [http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/rasp-charles-4452 "Rasp, Charles (1846 - 1907)"], ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', Volume 6. Melbourne University Press, 1976. p. 9.</ref>

Together with a half-dozen backers, including station manager George McCulloch (a young cousin of Victorian Premier Sir James McCulloch),<ref>Oxford Dictionary of National Biography</ref> Rasp formed the '''Broken Hill Company''' staking out the entire Hill. As costs mounted during the ensuing months of fruitless search, three of the original seven (now remembered as the Syndicate of Seven) sold their shares, so that, on the eve of the company's great success, there were nine shareholders, including Rasp, McCulloch, Philip Charly (aka Charley), David James, James Poole (five of the original syndicate of seven, which had previously included George Urquhart and G.A.M. Lind), Bowes Kelly, W. R. Wilson, and William Jamieson (who'd bought shares from several of the founders).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11102036 |title=Treasure Hill on Sheep Station |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=2 September 1937 |access-date=20 July 2013 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=United States Congressional Serial Set, Volume 2591 |date=1889 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |page=344 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VkZHAQAAIAAJ}}</ref>

John Darling, Jr. became a director of the company in 1892 and was chairman of directors from 1907 to 1914.<ref>{{Australian Dictionary of Biography |first=H. S. K. |last=Kent |title=Darling, John (1852–1914) |id2=darling-john-3876 |access-date=5 December 2013}}</ref>

Strongly encouraged by the New South Wales Minister for Public Works, Arthur Hill Griffith,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nairn |first1=Bede |title=Griffith, Arthur Hill (1861–1946) |url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/griffith-arthur-hill-6486 |website=Australian Dictionary of Biography |access-date=26 July 2018|publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cameron |first1=David |title=On an island in the River: The establishment of the Walsh Island Dockyard & Engineering Works, Newcastle, 1910–1919 |url=http://www.reocities.com/Athens/acropolis/9968/aha97b.html |website=Reocities |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123073533/http://www.reocities.com/Athens/acropolis/9968/aha97b.html |archive-date=23 November 2013 |date=1997}}</ref> in 1915, the company ventured into steel manufacturing, with its operations based primarily in Newcastle, New South Wales. The decision to move from mining ore at Broken Hill to opening a steelworks at Newcastle was due to the technical limitations in recovering value from mining the lower-lying sulphide ores.<ref>Jay, Christopher. (1999) ''A Future More Prosperous: The History of Newcastle Steelworks 1912–1999'', The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, Newcastle. p. 34.</ref> The discovery of Iron Knob and Iron Monarch near the western shore of the Spencer Gulf in South Australia, combined with the refinement, by BHP metallurgists A. D. Carmichael and Leslie Bradford, of the [[Chemistry:Froth flotation|froth flotation]] technique for separating zinc sulphides from the accompanying gangue and subsequent conversion (Carmichael–Bradford process) to oxides of the metal, allowed BHP to economically extract valuable metals from the heaps of [[Engineering:Tailings|tailings]] up to {{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on}} high at the mine site.<ref>Jay, Christopher. (1999) ''A Future More Prosperous: The History of Newcastle Steelworks 1912–1999'', The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, Newcastle. pp. 42–43.</ref> In 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy targeted the BHP steelworks<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newcastlemirage.com/stories/throwback-thursday-the-shelling-of-newcastle-by-amy-theodore|title=Throwback Thursday; The Shelling of Newcastle|first=Amy |last=Theodore|work=Newcastle Mirage|date=1 February 2018 |access-date=14 February 2018}}</ref> during the largely unsuccessful shelling of Newcastle.<ref>{{cite book|last=Carruthers|first=Steven L.|title=Japanese Submarine Raiders, 1942 : A Maritime Mystery|year=2006|publisher=Casper Publications|location=Narrabeen, NSW|isbn=978-0-9775063-0-9|edition=Revised}}</ref>

Newcastle operations were closed in 1999,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/stories/s55787.htm |title=Steel City without the Big Australian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000308060425/http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/stories/s55787.htm |work= 7.30|date=29 September 1999 |archive-date=8 March 2000}}</ref> and a 70-ton commemorative sculpture, ''The Muster Point'', was installed on Industrial Drive, in the suburb of Mayfield, New South Wales. The long products side of the steel business was spun off to form OneSteel in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |title=OneSteel Limited |url=http://www.delisted.com.au/CompanyDisplay.aspx?id=6175 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706103400/http://www.delisted.com.au/CompanyDisplay.aspx?id=6175|archive-date=6 July 2011|website=Delisted.com.au }}</ref>

In the 1950s, BHP began [[Chemistry:Petroleum|petroleum]] exploration, which became an increasing focus following oil and [[Chemistry:Natural gas|natural gas]] discoveries in Bass Strait in the 1960s.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Petroleum Exploration in Victoria |url=http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenmp.nsf/linkview/e1969d9710f16de2ca256ec8000b159884b1bca6986b5725ca256f56001a2d7f |website=DPI.Vic.gov.au |publisher=Department of Primary Industries – Victoria |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071004201204/http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenmp.nsf/linkview/e1969d9710f16de2ca256ec8000b159884b1bca6986b5725ca256f56001a2d7f |archive-date=4 October 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Our History |url=https://www.bhp.com/our-approach/our-history |website=BHP.com |access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref>

BHP began to diversify into a variety of mining projects overseas. Those included the Ok Tedi copper mine in Papua New Guinea, where the company was successfully sued by the indigenous inhabitants because of the environmental degradation caused by mining operations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Imhof |first1=Aviva |title=The Big, Ugly Australian Goes to Ok Tedi |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18322244.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727145729/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18322244.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 July 2018 |access-date=27 July 2018 |work=Multinational Monitor |date=1 March 1996}}</ref> BHP had better success with the giant Escondida copper mine in Chile, of which it owns 57.5%, and at the Ekati Diamond Mine in northern Canada, which BHP contracted for in 1996,<ref name="Natural Resources Canada">{{cite web |title=Ekati Diamond Mine – Northwest Territories |url=http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mining-materials/publications/aboriginal/bulletin/8822 |website=Natural Resources of Canada |access-date=28 July 2018 |date=2008}}</ref> began mining in 1998,<ref name="Natural Resources Canada"/> and sold its 80% stake in to Dominion Diamond Corporation in 2013 as production declined.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DeMarco |first1=Anthony |title=Dominion Diamond Completes $553 Million Acquisition of Canadian Diamond Mine |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonydemarco/2013/04/10/dominion-diamond-completes-553-million-acquisition-of-canadian-diamond-mine/ |access-date=27 July 2018 |work={{wipe|Forbes}} |date=10 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=MacNamara |first1=William |title=BHP puts diamonds division up for sale |url=https://www.ft.com/content/71e75b82-1a99-11e1-ae14-00144feabdc0 |access-date=28 July 2018 |work=[[Social:Financial Times|Financial Times]] |date=30 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ebner |first1=David |title=BHP to mine Ekati diamonds a year longer |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/bhp-to-mine-ekati-diamonds-a-year-longer/article582659/ |access-date=28 July 2018 |work=Globe & Mail |date=9 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=BHP Billiton Records 26% Drop in Output From Ekati in Fiscal Q3 in Final Report |url=http://www.diamondintelligence.com/magazine/magazine.aspx?id=11601 |website=DiamondIntelligence.com |access-date=28 July 2018 |date=17 April 2013}}</ref>

=== BHP Billiton ===
[[File:BHPB Iron Ore 4303 + 4346 (2).JPG|thumb|200px|Diesel locomotives in BHP Billiton Iron Ore "bubble" livery, at the company's Nelson Point Yard, Port Hedland, Western Australia.]]
In 2001, BHP merged with the Billiton mining company to form BHP Billiton.<ref name=":0" /> In 2002, flat steel products were demerged to form the publicly traded company BHP Steel which, in 2003, became BlueScope Steel.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005-11-09|title=AGL demerger to give shares a head of steam|url=https://www.afr.com/companies/agl-demerger-to-give-shares-a-head-of-steam-20051109-jkl6s|access-date=2020-06-30|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}</ref>

In March 2005, BHP Billiton announced a US$7.3&nbsp;billion agreed bid for WMC Resources, owners of the Olympic Dam copper, gold and uranium mine in South Australia, nickel operations in Western Australia and Queensland, and a Queensland fertiliser plant.<ref name=":1" /> The takeover achieved 90 per cent acceptance on 17 June 2005, and 100 per cent ownership was announced on 2 August 2005, achieved through compulsory acquisition of the remaining 10 percent of the shares.<ref>{{cite news|title=BHP Billiton to mop up minority in WMC after taking over 90 pct |work={{wipe|Forbes}} |url=https://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2005/06/17/afx2098254.html |date=17 June 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102211651/http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2005/06/17/afx2098254.html |archive-date=2 November 2007 }}</ref>

On 8 November 2007, BHP Billiton announced it was seeking to purchase rival mining group Rio Tinto Group in an all-share deal.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2007-11-08|title=Rio Tinto rejects takeover bid from BHP Billiton to create mining giant|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/08/business/worldbusiness/08iht-mine.8247508.html|access-date=2020-06-30|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The initial offer of 3.4 shares of BHP Billiton stock for each share of Rio Tinto was rejected by the board of Rio Tinto for "significantly undervaluing" the company.<ref name=":1" /> It was unknown at the time whether BHP Billiton would attempt to purchase Rio Tinto through some form of hostile takeover.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |title=BHP makes bid move for Rio Tinto |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7084946.stm |access-date=28 July 2018 |work=BBC News |date=8 November 2007}}</ref> A formal hostile bid of 3.4 BHP Billiton shares for each Rio Tinto share was announced on 6 February 2008;<ref name="FTBHPBRiotakeover2">{{Cite news |title=BHP makes bid for Rio |date=6 February 2008 |work=The Age |url=http://business.theage.com.au/bhp-makes-bid-for-rio/20080206-1qgf.html |first=Jamie |last=Freed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207013119/http://business.theage.com.au/bhp-makes-bid-for-rio/20080206-1qgf.html| archive-date= 7 February 2008}}</ref> The bid was withdrawn 25 November 2008 due to global recession.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Macalister |first1=Terry |title=BHP walks away from mining mega-merger |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/nov/26/bhp-rio-tinto-deal-collapse |access-date=28 July 2018 |work={{wipe|The Guardian}} |date=26 November 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=England |first1=Cameron |title=BHP withdraws Rio offer |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/bhp-withdraws-rio-offer/news-story/2333451faff3eeafedc8370e34765f34 |access-date=28 July 2018 |work=The Advertiser |date=26 November 2008}}</ref>

On 14 May 2008, BHP Billiton shares rose to a record high of [[Finance:Australian dollar|A$]]48.90 following speculation that Chinese mining firm Chinalco was considering purchasing a large stake.<ref>{{cite news |title=BHP shares surge on talk of China move |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-bhpbilliton/bhp-shares-surge-on-talk-of-china-move-idUKSYD5330620080514 |access-date=28 July 2018 |work={{wipe|Reuters}}|date=14 May 2008}}</ref>

As global nickel prices fell, on 25 November 2008, Billiton announced that it would drop its A$66&nbsp;billion takeover of rival Rio Tinto Group, stating that the "risks to shareholder value" would "increase" to "an unacceptable level" due to the global financial crisis.<ref>{{cite news |title=BHP Billiton withdraws $66bn bid for rival miner Rio Tinto |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/mining/3517199/BHP-Billiton-withdraws-66bn-bid-for-rival-miner-Rio-Tinto.html |date=25 November 2008 |access-date=18 April 2011 |first=Amy |last=Wilson}}</ref>

On 21 January 2009, BHP Billiton then announced that Ravensthorpe Nickel Mine in Western Australia would cease operations, ending shipments of ore from Ravensthorpe to the Yabulu nickel plant in Queensland Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bb/investorsMedia/news/2009/changesToBhpBillitonsNickelBusiness.jsp| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131011918/http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bb/investorsMedia/news/2009/changesToBhpBillitonsNickelBusiness.jsp |archive-date=31 January 2009 |title=Changes to BHP Billiton's Nickel Business |website=BHP Billiton |date=21 January 2009 }}</ref> Yabulu refinery was subsequently sold to Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer, becoming the Palmer Nickel and Cobalt Refinery. Pinto Valley mine in the United States was also closed. Mine closures and general scaling back during the global financial crisis accounted for 6,000 employee lay offs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chambers |first1=Matt |title=BHP axes 6000 jobs and cuts projects |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,24945105-643,00.html |work=The Australian |date=22 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124113313/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,24945105-643,00.html |archive-date=24 January 2009}}</ref>

As the nickel market became saturated by both spiraling economics and cheaper extraction methods; on 9 December 2009, BHP Billiton sold its Ravensthorpe Nickel Mine, which had cost A$2.4&nbsp;billion to build, to {{wipe|Vancouver}}-based First Quantum Minerals for US$340&nbsp;million. First Quantum, a Canadian company, was one of three bidders for the mine, tendering the lowest offer, and returned the mine to production in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.first-quantum.com/Our-Business/operating-mines/Ravensthorpe/default.aspx |title=Ravensthorpe |website=First-Quantum.com |access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> Ravensthorpe cost BHP US$3.6&nbsp;billion in write-downs when it was shut in January 2009 after less than a year of production.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chambers |first1=Matt |title=Canada's First Quantum wins bid to revive Ravensthorpe nickel mine |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/canadas-first-quantum-wins-bid-to-revive-ravensthorpe-nickel-mine/news-story/b75247d092f1a2a6e7973cc64c26c803 |access-date=28 July 2018 |work=The Australian |date=10 December 2009}}</ref>

In January 2010, following the BHP Billiton purchase of Athabasca Potash for US$320m, ''[[Finance:The Economist|The Economist]]'' reported that, by 2020, BHP Billiton could produce approximately 15 per cent of the world demand for [[Chemistry:Potash|potash]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/business/2010/02/18/a-growth-business |title=Mergers in the fertiliser industry: A growth business |date=18 February 2010 |work=[[Finance:The Economist|The Economist]] |access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref>

In August 2010, BHP Billiton made a hostile takeover bid worth US$40&nbsp;billion for PotashCorp. The bid came after BHP's first bid, made on 17 August, was rejected as being undervalued.<ref>{{Cite news |title=BHP Billiton launches hostile bid for Potash |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11009145 |work=BBC News |date=18 August 2010 |access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> This acquisition marked a major strategic move by BHP outside hard commodities and commenced the diversification of its business away from resources with high exposure to carbon price risk, like coal, petroleum and iron ore. The takeover bid was opposed by the Government of Saskatchewan under Premier Brad Wall. On 3 November, Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement announced the preliminary rejection of the deal under the ''Investment Canada Act'', giving BHP Billiton 30 days to refine their deal before a final decision was made;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2010/11/03/potash-ottawa-review.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106010315/http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2010/11/03/potash-ottawa-review.html |archive-date=6 November 2010 |title=BHP's PotashCorp bid rejected for now|work=CBC News |date=3 November 2010}}</ref> BHP withdrew its offer on 14 November 2010.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bouw |first1=Brenda |last2=Kiladze |first2=Tim |last3=Chase |first3=Steven |title=BHP withdraws Potash bid |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/bhp-withdraws-potash-bid/article565929/Stobbe,/ |access-date=26 July 2018 |work=Globe & Mail |date=14 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Dvorak |first1=Phred| last2=Chon |first2=Gina |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704393604575614983569847368 |title=BHP Abandons Pursuit of Potash Corp. |newspaper={{wipe|The Wall Street Journal}} |date=15 November 2010 |access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>

On 22 February 2011, BHP Billiton announced that it had paid $4.75&nbsp;billion in cash to [[Company:Chesapeake Energy|Chesapeake Energy]] for its Fayetteville shale assets, which include {{convert|487000|acre|km2}} of mineral rights leases and {{convert|420|mi|km}} of pipeline located in north central Arkansas. The wells on the mineral leases are currently producing about 415&nbsp;million cubic feet of natural gas per day. BHP Billiton planned to spend $800&nbsp;million to $1&nbsp;billion a year over 10 years to develop the field and triple production.<ref>{{cite web |title=BHP Billiton Announces Acquisition of Chesapeake Energy Corporation's Fayetteville USA, Shale Assets |url=https://www.bhp.com/media-and-insights/news-releases/2011/02/bhp-billiton-announces-acquisition-of-chesapeake-energy-corporations-fayetteville-usa-shale-assets |website=BHP.com |access-date=26 July 2018 |format=press release |date=22 February 2011}}</ref>

On 14 July 2011, BHP Billiton announced that it would acquire Petrohawk Energy of the United States for approximately $12.1 billion in cash, considerably expanding its shale natural gas resources<ref>{{Cite news | title=BHP Billiton to Buy Petrohawk for $12.1 Billion |work={{wipe|The New York Times}} |first=Michael J. |last=De La Merced  |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/bhp-billiton-to-buy-petrohawk-for-12-1-billion/ |date=14 July 2011 | access-date=14 July 2011}}</ref> in an offer of $US38.75 per share.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.petrohawk.com/docs/PressRelease71411.pdf |title=BHP Billiton and Petrohawk Corporation announce merger agreement |website=Petrohawk |date=15 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327162008/http://www.petrohawk.com/docs/PressRelease71411.pdf |archive-date=27 March 2012}}</ref>
[[File:BHP office in Adelaide.jpg|thumb|left|BHP office tower in [[Place:Adelaide|Adelaide]]]]

On 22 August 2012, BHP Billiton announced that it was delaying its US$20 billion (£12 billion) Olympic Dam copper mine expansion project in South Australia to study less capital intensive options, deferring its dual harbour strategy at West Australian Iron Ore and slowing down its Potash growth option in Canada.<ref name=reut22812>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-bhpbilliton-earnings-idUKBRE87L04620120822|title=BHP delays $20 billion Olympic Dam project as profit slides|access-date=26 August 2012|work={{wipe|Reuters}}|date=22 August 2012}}</ref><ref name=guard22812>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/aug/22/bhp-billiton-olympic-dam-china|first=Rupert |last=Neate |title=BHP Billiton scraps $20bn Olympic Dam project as China slowdown bites|access-date=26 August 2012|work={{wipe|The Guardian}}|date=22 August 2012}}</ref> The company simultaneously announced a freeze on approving any major new expansion projects.<ref name=reut22812/><ref name=guard22812/>

Days after announcing the Olympic Dam pull-out, BHP Billiton announced that it was selling its Yeelirrie Uranium Project to Canadian [[Company:Cameco|Cameco]] for a fee of around $430 million. The sale was part of a broader move to step away from resource expansion in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Cecilia  |last=Jamasmie |url=http://www.mining.com/bhp-sells-australias-mammoth-uranium-deposit-to-cameco-40119/|title=BHP sells Australia's mammoth uranium deposit|date=27 August 2012|website=Mining.com|access-date=11 October 2012}}</ref>

On 19 August 2014, BHP Billiton announced it would create an independent global metals and mining company based on a selection of its aluminium, coal, manganese, nickel, and silver assets.<ref name="bhpbilliton.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.bhp.com/media-and-insights/news-releases/2014/08/creation-of-new-global-metals-and-mining-company|date=19 August 2014 |title=Creation of New Global Metals and Mining Company to Accelerate Portfolio Simplification|website=BHP.com|access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref> The newly formed entity, named South32, was subsequently demerged with listings on the [[Company:Australian Securities Exchange|Australian Securities Exchange]] the JSE and the [[Company:London Stock Exchange|London Stock Exchange]].<ref name="bhpbilliton.com"/>

In 2015, BHP Billiton spun off a number of its subsidiaries<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=20460148 |title=Company Overview of BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa Proprietary Limited|website=Bloomberg.com|access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref> in South Africa and Southern Africa to form a new company known as South32.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=James |last2=Smyth |first2=Jamie |title=BHP unwinds Billiton merger with South32 spin-off plan |url=https://www.ft.com/content/7083dd54-ccbd-11e4-b5a5-00144feab7de |access-date=26 July 2018 |work=[[Social:Financial Times|Financial Times]] |date=18 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=James |last2=Smyth |first2=Jamie |title=Shareholders approve BHP Billiton spin-off of South32 |url=https://www.ft.com/content/1124afe6-f3cd-11e4-99de-00144feab7de |access-date=26 July 2018 |work=[[Social:Financial Times|Financial Times]] |date=7 May 2015}}</ref>

BHP Billiton agreed to pay a fine of $25 million to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in 2015 in connection with violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act related to its "hospitality program" at the 2008 Summer Olympics in [[Place:Beijing|Beijing]]. BHP Billiton invited 176 government and state-owned-enterprise officials to attend the Games on an all-expenses-paid package. While BHP Billiton claimed to have compliance processes in place to avoid conflicts of interest, the SEC found that BHP Billiton had invited officials from at least four countries where BHP Billiton had interests in influencing the officials' decisions (Congo, Guinea, {{wipe|Philippines}} and Burundi).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bartlett |first1=Audine |title=Foreign bribery update: A harsh lesson for a global miner |url=https://www.carternewell.com/icms_docs/218542_Foreign_bribery_update_A_harsh_lesson_for_a_global_miner.pdf |website=Resources Newsletter |publisher=Carter Newell Lawyers |access-date=29 July 2018 |date=June 2015}}</ref>

In August 2016, BHP Billiton recorded its worst annual loss in history, $6.4 billion.<ref>{{cite news|first=Katy |last=Barnato |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/16/bhp-billiton-reports-annual-loss-of-6385-billion-versus-profit-of-191-billion-a-year-ago.html |title=World's largest mining firm records worst loss in its history |work={{wipe|CNBC}} |date=16 August 2016 |access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref>

Towards the end of 2016 BHP Billiton indicated it would expand its petroleum business and make new investments in the sector.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/bhp-billiton-lays-out-petroleum-expansion-plans-2016-10-05 |title=BHP Billiton lays out petroleum expansion plans |last=Hoyle|first=Rhiannon|date=5 October 2016 |work=MarketWatch |access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref>

In February 2017, BHP Billiton announced a $2.2 billion investment in the new [[Company:BP|BP]] platform in the Gulf of Mexico.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/02/09/bhp-billiton-backs-bps-return-gulf-mexico-175bn-investment/|first=Jillian |last=Ambrose |title=BHP Billiton backs BP's return to Gulf of Mexico with £1.75bn investment|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=9 February 2017|access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref> During the same year, as part of their plan to increase productivity at the Escondida mine in Chile,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.afr.com/business/mining/the-chilean-strike-bhp-billiton-just-has-to-have-20170202-gu45ou |first=Matthew |last=Stephens |title=Having spent $US7 billion on Escondida's new start BHP has to secure world-class productivity |date=2 February 2017 |work=Australian Financial Review |access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref> which is the world's biggest copper mine, BHP Billiton attempted to get workers to accept a 4-year pay freeze, a 66% reduction in the end-of-conflict bonus offering, and increased shift flexibility. This resulted in a major workers' strike and forced the company to declare ''[[Finance:Force majeure|force majeure]]'' on two shipments, which drove copper prices up by 4%.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-10/bhp-said-to-declare-force-majeure-on-shipments-from-escondida-iyzv4mui |first1=Mark  |last1=Burton |first2=David |last2=Stringer |title=BHP Said to Declare Force Majeure on Copper From Escondida |date=11 February 2017 |work={{wipe|Bloomberg News}} |access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref>

In April 2017 activist hedge fund manager Elliott Advisors proposed a plan for BHP Billiton to spin off its American petroleum assets and significantly restructure the business, including the scrapping of its dual Sydney-London listing, suggesting shares be offered only in the United Kingdom, while leaving its headquarters and tax residences in Australia where shares would trade as depository instruments. At the time of the correspondence Elliott held about 4.1 per cent of the issued shares in London-listed BHP Billiton plc, worth $3.81 billion. Australia's government warned it would block moves to shift BHP Billiton's stock listing from Australia to the United Kingdom. Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison said the move would be contrary to the country's national interest and would breach government orders mandating a listing on the Australian Securities Exchange. BHP Billiton dismissed the plan saying the costs and risks of Elliott's proposal outweighed any potential benefits.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://secure.marketwatch.com/story/australia-to-block-elliotts-bhp-listing-plan-2017-05-04|first=Rob |last=Taylor |title=Australia to block Elliott's BHP listing plan |work=MarketWatch |access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref>

=== BHP ===
In May 2017, with much of the former Billiton assets having been disposed of, BHP Billiton began to rebrand itself as BHP, at first in Australia and then globally. It replaced the slogan "The Big Australian" with "Think Big", with an advertising campaign rolling out in mid May 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/bhp-to-drop-billiton-in-rebranding-move-20170514-gw4dfz.html|title=BHP to drop 'Billiton' in rebranding move |last=Robins |first=Brian |date=15 May 2017 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref> Work on the change began in late 2015 according to BHP's chief external affairs officer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-business/big-australian-just-bhp-again-no-billiton-20170515-4tyy0.html |first=Prashant |last=Mehra  |title=Big Australian just BHP again, no Billiton |date=15 May 2017 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|agency=Australian Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925040722/http://www.smh.com.au//breaking-news-business/big-australian-just-bhp-again-no-billiton-20170515-4tyy0.html |archive-date=25 September 2017 }}</ref>

In August 2017, BHP announced that it would sell off its US shale oil and gas business.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Regan |first1=James |title=BHP to quit U.S. shale business as annual profit surges|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bhp-billiton-results/bhp-to-quit-u-s-shale-business-as-annual-profit-surges-idUSKCN1B12GS|access-date=24 September 2017 |work={{wipe|Reuters}}|date=22 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Denina|first1=Clara|last2=Afanasieva|first2=Dasha|title=BHP hires Barclays, Citi for U.S. shale gas divestment: sources |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bhp-billiton-divestiture-shale/bhp-hires-barclays-citi-for-u-s-shale-gas-divestment-sources-idUSKCN1BB1BG |access-date=24 September 2017|work={{wipe|Reuters}}|date=31 August 2017}}</ref> In July 2018, the company agreed to sell its shale assets to [[Company:BP|BP]] for $10.5 billion.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/27/business/energy-environment/bp-bhp-shale-oil-gas.html Reed, Stanley] "BP Makes 10.5 Billion Shale Deal; Its Biggest Since Deepwater Horizons", ''Reuters'' via ''The New York Times'', 27 July 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.</ref> BHP indicated its intention to return funds to investors.<ref>[https://www.offshore-technology.com/news/bp-us-shale-oil-and-gas/ Husseini, Talal] "BP to spend $10.5bn in BHP US shale oil and gas assets acquisition", ''Offshore Technology'', 27 July 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.</ref> On 29 September 2018, BHP completed the sale of its Fayetteville Onshore US gas assets to a wholly owned subsidiary of Merit Energy Company.<ref>{{cite web |title=BHP completes $US300m sale of Fayetteville onshore gas asset|url=https://www.australianmining.com.au/news/bhp-completes-fayetteville-onshore-assets/|publisher=Australian Mining|date=1 October 2018|access-date=2 October 2018}}</ref>

In August 2021, BHP announced plans to exit the oil and gas industry by merging its hydrocarbon business with Woodside Petroleum, Australia’s largest independent gas producer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/aug/16/mining-multinational-bhp-starts-talks-exit-oil-gas-industry|title=Mining multinational BHP starts talks to exit oil and gas industry|accessdate=16 August 2021|website=The Guardian}}</ref> It also announced its intention to delist from the London Stock Exchange and consolidate on the Australian Securities Exchange.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58241008 BHP: Mining giant to leave London's FTSE 100 for Sydney ''BBC News'' 17 August 2021</ref>

==Corporation==
BHP is a [[Finance:Dual-listed company|dual-listed company]]; the Australian ''BHP Billiton Limited'' and the British ''BHP Billiton plc'' are separately listed with separate shareholder bodies, while conducting business as one operation with identical boards of directors and a single management structure.<ref name="ar"/> The headquarters of BHP Billiton Limited and the global headquarters of the combined group are located in [[Place:Melbourne|Melbourne]], Australia. The headquarters of BHP Billiton plc are located in London, England.<ref name="ar"/> Its main office locations are in Australia, the U.S., Canada, the UK, Chile, Malaysia, and Singapore.<ref name="ar"/>

The company's shares trade on the following exchanges:<ref>{{Cite news |publisher = BHP Billiton |date = 26 September 2007 |url = http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/20fstatement2007.pdf |title = SEC Form 20-F, BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton plc, for FY 2007 |page = 274 |access-date =9 April 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080409224415/http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/20fstatement2007.pdf |archive-date= 9 April 2008}}</ref>

BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton plc were renamed BHP Group Limited and BHP Group plc, respectively, on 19 November 2018.<ref>[https://www.bhp.com/media-and-insights/news-releases/2018/11/change-of-name-to-bhp-group BHP] "Change of name to BHP Group", 20 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.</ref>
{|
|- valign=top
|
*BHP Billiton Limited
**Australia ({{asx|BHP}})
**US ({{nyse|BHP}})
|
*BHP Billiton plc
**UK ({{lse|BHPL}})
**US ({{nyse|BBL}})
**South Africa ({{jse|BIL}})
|}

===Senior management===
In 1998, BHP hired American Paul Anderson to restructure the company. Anderson successfully completed the four-year project with a merger between BHP and London-based Billiton.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Parkinson|first=Gary|date=2001-03-19|title=Billiton and BHP agree merger plans|journal=Daily Telegraph|language=en-GB|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/4486005/Billiton-and-BHP-agree-merger-plans.html|access-date=2020-06-30|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> In July 2002, Brian Gilbertson of Billiton was appointed CEO, but resigned after just six months, citing irreconcilable differences with the board.<ref>{{Cite news |title=BHP chief in shock resignation |work=CNN |access-date=13 July 2007 |date=5 January 2003 |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/BUSINESS/asia/01/05/australia.BHP.biz/index.html }}</ref>

Upon Gilbertson's departure in early 2003, Chip Goodyear was appointed the new CEO, increasing sales by 47 percent and profits by 78 percent during his tenure.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Best European Performers |url=http://www.mediaset.it/gruppomediaset/bin/45.$plit/bus_week_18_06_05_mediaset.pdf |access-date=26 July 2018 |work=Business Week |date=18 June 2005}}</ref> Goodyear retired on 30 September 2007.<ref name=":2" /> Marius Kloppers was Goodyear's successor.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |title=BHP Billiton To Appoint Marius Kloppers As New CEO |url=https://www.bhp.com/media-and-insights/news-releases/2007/05/bhp-billiton-to-appoint-marius-kloppers-as-new-ceo |website=BHP.com |access-date=29 July 2018 |format=press release |date=31 May 2007}}</ref> Following Kloppers' tenure, Andrew Mackenzie, chief executive of Non-Ferrous, assumed the role of CEO in 2013.<ref>{{Who's Who |surname= Mackenzie |othernames = Andrew Stewart |id = U257762 | volume = 2014 |edition= online edition via [[Organization:Oxford University Press|Oxford University Press]]}} {{subscription required}}</ref> Australia mining head Mike Henry succeeded Mackenzie on 1 January 2020.<ref>[https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/mike-henry-s-30-year-journey-to-bhp-s-top-job-20191114-p53aoz "Mike Henry's 30-year journey to BHP's top job"; James Thompson; ''The Australian Financial Review''; Nov. 14, 2019.]</ref>

==Operations==
BHP has mining operations in Australia, North America, and South America, and petroleum operations in the U.S., Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, the UK, and Algeria.<ref name="ar"/>

The company has four primary operational units:
* [[Earth:Coal|Coal]]
* [[Chemistry:Copper|Copper]]
* [[Earth:Iron ore|Iron ore]]
* [[Chemistry:Petroleum|Petroleum]]

The company's mines are as follows:<ref>{{cite web |title=BHP Billiton |url=https://mining-atlas.com/company/BHP-Billiton.php |website=Mining-Atlas.com |access-date=29 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926082256/https://mining-atlas.com/company/BHP-Billiton.php |archive-date=26 September 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:RC drill rig.jpg|thumb|200px|Drill rig at Area C mine, near Newman, Western Australia.]]
[[File:Mount Whaleback mine.jpg|thumb|200px|Process facility at [[Earth:Mount Whaleback mine|Mount Whaleback mine]], Western Australia.]]
[[File:EscondidaMine-EO.JPG|thumb|200px|False colour satellite image of Escondida mine, Chile, courtesy of NASA.]]
{{Div col|colwidth=}}
===Algeria===
*Ohanet gas field
*ROD gas field

===Australia===
====New South Wales====
*Mount Arthur Coal mine

====Queensland====
*Blackwater Mine (50%) BHP Mitsubishi Alliance
*Broadmeadow (50%) BHP Mitsubishi Alliance
*Goonyella (50%) BHP Mitsubishi Alliance
*Hay Point
*Peak Downs (50%) BHP Mitsubishi Alliance
*Poitrel Metallurgical Coal Mine (Jointly owned with Mitsui)
*Saraji (50%) BHP Mitsubishi Alliance

====South Australia====
*Olympic Dam

====Victoria====
*Bass Strait (50%)
*Minerva offshore (90%)

====Western Australia====
*[[Earth:Area C mine|Area C mine]]
*[[Earth:Eastern Range mine|Eastern Range mine]]
*[[Earth:Jimblebar mine|Jimblebar mine]]
*Kalgoorlie
*Kambalda
*Kwinana
*Leinster
*Mount Keith
*[[Earth:Mount Whaleback mine|Mount Whaleback]]
*Nickel West operations
*Nimingarra Iron Ore Mine, Jointly owned with Itochu and Mitsubishi)
*[[Earth:North West Shelf Venture|North West Shelf Venture]], (16.67% LNG phase, 8.33% domestic gas phase.)
*Orebodies 18, 23 and 25 mine
*Port Hedland
*[[Earth:Yandi mine|Yandi mine]]
*[[Earth:Yarrie mine|Yarrie mine]]

===Brazil===
*[[Company:Samarco|Samarco]]: a [[Finance:Joint venture|joint-venture]] with [[Company:Vale|Vale]] (50% ownership each). The project led to the worst environmental disaster in the history of mining in Brazil:<ref name=record>{{cite news |first=Felipe |last=Rezende |url=https://noticias.r7.com/minas-gerais/rompimento-de-barragens-causa-maior-dano-ambiental-da-historia-de-minas-diz-promotor-06112015 |title=Rompimento de barragens causa "maior dano ambiental da história de Minas", diz promotor| language=pt |trans-title=The collapse of the Samaco's dams has caused the "largest environmental disaster in the history of Minas Gerais", says public prosecutor |date=6 November 2015 |access-date=29 July 2018 |work=R7}}</ref> the collapse of two [[Earth:Iron ore|iron ore]] tailings dams<ref name="Darlington">{{cite news |first=Shasta |last=Darlington |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/06/americas/brazil-dam-break-flooding/index.html |title=Dam break sweeps away homes in Brazil, killing at least 1 person |date=7 November 2015 |access-date=29 July 2018 |work=CNN}}</ref> in Bento Rodrigues, a subdistrict of Mariana.

===Canada===
*Jansen [[Chemistry:Potash|potash]] development project, Saskatchewan

===Chile===
*Minera Escondida Copper, gold and silver mine jointly owned with Rio Tinto Group and Pan Pacific Copper
*Cerro Colorado
*Spence

===Colombia===
*[[Earth:Cerrejón|Cerrejón]] coal mine in Guajira department (33.3%)

===Mexico===
*Trion

===Peru===
*Antamina

===Trinidad & Tobago===
*Angostura & Ruby oil and gas fields

===United States===
*Gulf of Mexico, oil and gas field (Shenzi field)
*Resolution Copper, near Superior, Arizona
{{div col end}}

==Responsibility for climate damage==
[[File:Bento Rodrigues, Mariana, Minas Gerais (22828956680).jpg|thumb|A village flooded in the Bento Rodrigues dam disaster (2015). The dam was a property of Samarco, a joint venture between Vale and BHP Billiton.]]

BHP is listed as one of the 90 fossil fuel extraction and marketing companies responsible for two-thirds of global [[Earth:Greenhouse gas emissions|greenhouse gas emissions]] since the beginning of the industrial age.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goldenberg |first1=Suzanne |title=Just 90 companies caused two-thirds of man-made global warming emissions |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/20/90-companies-man-made-global-warming-emissions-climate-change |access-date=29 July 2018 |work={{wipe|The Guardian}} |date=21 November 2013}}</ref> Its cumulative emissions as of 2010 have been estimated at 7,606 Mt{{CO2}}e, representing 0.52% of global industrial emissions between 1751 and 2010, ranking it the 19th-largest corporate polluter.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Heede |first1=Richard |title=Tracing anthropogenic carbon dioxide and methane emissions to fossil fuel and cement producers, 1854–2010 |journal=Climate Change |date=January 2014 |volume=122 |issue=1–2 |pages=229–241 |doi=10.1007/s10584-013-0986-y |bibcode=2014ClCh..122..229H |doi-access=free }}</ref> According to BHP management 10% of these emissions are from direct operations, while 90% come from products sold by the company.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hannam |first1=Peter |title=BHP among world's 20 largest climate culprits |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/bhp-among-worlds-20-largest-climate-culprits-20131121-2xxtt.html |access-date=29 July 2018 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=21 November 2013}}</ref> BHP has been voluntarily reporting its direct GHG emissions since 1996. In 2013, it was criticised for lobbying against [[Earth:Carbon pricing in Australia|carbon pricing in Australia]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mehra |first1=Malini |title=BHP Billiton: climate change leader or laggard? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/blog/bhp-billiton-climate-change-leader-laggard |access-date=29 July 2018 |work={{wipe|The Guardian}} |date=20 November 2013}}</ref>

BHP reported total [[Earth:Carbon footprint|CO2e emissions]] (Direct + Indirect) for the twelve months ending 30 June 2020 at 15,800 Kt.<ref name ="BHP Total CO2e emissions for 2020Q2">{{Cite web |title=BHP's Annual Report for 2020Q2 |archive-url=https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/BHP/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202/2020Q2/12 |url=https://www.bhp.com/-/media/documents/investors/annual-reports/2020/200915_bhpannualreport2020.pdf?la=en|archive-date=March 25, 2021 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ BHP's annual Total [[Earth:Carbon footprint|CO2e emissions]] (Direct + Indirect) (in kilotonnes)
|-
! Jun 2015 !! Jun 2016 !! Jun 2017 !! Jun 2018 !! Jun 2019 !! Jun 2020
|-
| 38,300<ref>{{Cite web |title=BHP's Annual Report for 2017Q2 |archive-url=https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/BHP/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202/2015Q2/12 |url=https://www.bhp.com/investor-centre/annual-report-2018/-/media/documents/investors/annual-reports/2017/bhpannualreport2017.pdf|archive-date=March 25, 2021 }}</ref> || 18,000<ref>{{Cite web |title=BHP's Annual Report for 2018Q2 |archive-url=https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/BHP/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202/2016Q2/12 |url=https://www.bhp.com/-/media/documents/investors/annual-reports/2018/bhpannualreport2018.pdf|archive-date=March 25, 2021 }}</ref> || 16,300<ref>{{Cite web |title=BHP's Annual Report for 2020Q2 |archive-url=https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/BHP/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202/2017Q2/12 |url=https://www.bhp.com/-/media/documents/investors/annual-reports/2020/200915_bhpannualreport2020.pdf?la=en|archive-date=March 25, 2021 }}</ref> || 17,000<ref>{{Cite web |title=BHP's Annual Report for 2020Q2 |archive-url=https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/BHP/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202/2018Q2/12 |url=https://www.bhp.com/-/media/documents/investors/annual-reports/2020/200915_bhpannualreport2020.pdf?la=en|archive-date=March 25, 2021 }}</ref> || 15,800<ref>{{Cite web |title=BHP's Annual Report for 2020Q2 |archive-url=https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/BHP/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202/2019Q2/12 |url=https://www.bhp.com/-/media/documents/investors/annual-reports/2020/200915_bhpannualreport2020.pdf?la=en|archive-date=March 25, 2021 }}</ref> || 15,800<ref name="BHP Total CO2e emissions for 2020Q2"/>
|}

==Significant accidents==
Bad weather caused a BHP Billiton helicopter to crash in Angola on 16 November 2007, killing the helicopter's five passengers. The deceased were: BHP Billiton Angola Chief Operating Officer David Hopgood (Australian), Angola Technical Services Operations Manager Kevin Ayre (British), Wild Dog Helicopters pilot Kottie Breedt (South African), Guy Sommerfield (British) of MMC and Louwrens Prinsloo (Namibian) of Prinsloo Drilling. The helicopter crashed approximately {{convert|80|km}} from the Alto Cuilo diamond exploration camp in Lunda Norte, northeastern Angola. BHP Billiton responded by suspending operations in the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fatal Helicopter Crash in Angola |url=https://www.bhp.com/media-and-insights/news-releases/2007/11/fatal-helicopter-crash-in-angola |website=BHP.com |access-date=29 July 2018 |date=17 November 2007}}</ref>

In 2015, the company was involved in the Bento Rodrigues tailings dam collapse, the worst environmental disaster in the history of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.<ref name=record/><ref name="Darlington"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/05/brazil-iron-mine-dam-bursts-floods-nearby-homes|title=Brazil dam burst: at least 15 feared dead after disaster at BHP-owned mine|date=6 November 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=7 February 2019}}</ref> On 5 November 2015, an iron ore mine tailings dam near Mariana, south-eastern Brazil, owned and operated by Samarco, a subsidiary of BHP and Vale,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Safari|first1=Maryam|last2=Bicudo|first2=de Castro Vincent|last3=Steccolini|first3=Ileana|date=2020-01-01|title=The interplay between home and host logics of accountability in multinational corporations (MNCs): the case of the Fundão dam disaster|journal=Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal|volume=ahead-of-print|issue=ahead-of-print|pages=1761–1789|doi=10.1108/AAAJ-03-2019-3912|issn=0951-3574|url=http://repository.essex.ac.uk/30403/1/Samarco%20pdf%20for%20open%20access.pdf}}</ref> suffered a catastrophic failure, devastating the nearby town of Bento Rodrigues with the mudflow, killing 19 people, injuring more than 50 and causing enormous ecological damage,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Timson |first1=Lia |last2=de Godo |first2=Lucas |title=Putting Bento Rodrigues back on the map after the dam disaster |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/south-america/putting-bento-rodrigues-back-on-the-map-after-the-dam-disaster-20181102-p50dki.html |access-date=6 March 2019 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=3 November 2018}}</ref> and threatening life along the Rio Doce and the Atlantic Ocean near the mouth of the Rio Doce.<ref>{{cite news |first=Bruce |last=Douglas |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/nov/22/anger-rises-as-brazilian-mine-disaster-threatens-river-and-sea-with-toxic-mud |title=Anger rises as Brazilian mine disaster threatens river and sea with toxic mud |work={{wipe|The Guardian}} |date=22 November 2015 |access-date=23 November 2015}}</ref> The accident was one of the biggest environmental disasters in Brazil's history.<ref>{{cite web |first=Caio  |last=Santos |url=https://jornalistaslivres.org/entre-o-luto-e-a-saudade-um-panorama-do-maior-desastre-ambiental-do-brasil/ |date=16 November 2016 |title=Entre o luto e a saudade: um panorama do maior desastre ambiental do Brasil |website=Jornalistas Livres |access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
*Mining in Australia

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Finance links
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* {{PM20|FID=co/003085|TEXT=Documents and clippings about|NAME=}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhp Billiton}}
[[Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]

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