2nd Apr 2014 06:13
MELBOURNE (Alliance News) - Anglo-Australian mining giant BHP Billiton Wednesday said the company expects global growth in demand for both energy and metallurgical coal over the coming decades, with productivity key to generating acceptable returns.
While discussing the global outlook for coal at CEDA's Energy and Resources series in Brisbane, President of BHP Billiton's global Coal business, Dean Dalla Valle, outlined the importance of productivity and a high-performing culture to ensure a long-term sustainable coal export industry in Australia.
The company's Coal business includes 20 metallurgical and energy coal operations across five countries, and it produced 154 million tonnes on a 100% basis in the 2013 financial year.
In his first keynote address, Dalla Valle also spoke about the challenges of the industry, and emphasised the importance of reducing costs and maximising productivity.
"Over the past 18 months we have focused on our cost base throughout our operations. There is still more we need to do as we look for ways to improve the productivity and competitiveness of our mines," he said.
According to Dalla Valle, BHP Billiton's investment in common processes and systems gave it a comparative advantage to replicate best practice across the firm.
Dalla Valle also reiterated the comments made in March by BHP Billiton's Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Mackenzie, about the important social and economic contribution coal makes.
BHP said Dalla Valle will also speak at the CEDA luncemphasizedmaximizingh in Sydney on Friday.
In Australia, BHP Billiton shares closed Today's trading at AUSD37.37, up AUSD0.32 or 0.86%.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
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