Date: 1 November 2001 Number: 27/01 BHP Billiton Signs Gas Memorandum of Understanding BHP Billiton, together with the other participants in the North West Shelf NWS) Venture, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Methanex Australia Pty Ltd for the supply of gas to a proposed methanol plant on the Burrup Peninsula, Western Australia. The agreement was signed by the six NWS Venture participants and involves the supply of 200 terajoules of gas a day over a 25 year period from 2005. Under the agreement, there is also a provision for the NWS Venture to supply a further 200 terajoules a day should Methanex proceed with plans to double production. It is intended to convert the Memorandum of Understanding into a gas sales agreement by the end of this year, subject to approval by the BHP Billiton Board. The proposed Burrup Peninsula plant will be supplied with Australian Feedstock Gas(TM) from the NWS Venture's existing facilities at Karratha. Australian Feedstock Gas(TM) is a medium pressure industrial quality natural gas used specifically for projects that require large quantities of gas for downstream processing. Methanex Australia Pty Ltd is a subsidiary of Methanex Corporation of Canada, which supplies about a quarter of the world's methanol market and more than 30 per cent of the Asia-Pacific market. BHP Billiton's equity in the North West Shelf Venture is 16.67 per cent. The other participants are Woodside Energy Ltd (operator - 16.67 per cent); BP Developments Australia Pty Ltd (16.67 per cent); Chevron Australia Pty Ltd (16.67 per cent); Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) Pty Ltd (16.67 per cent); and Shell Development (Australia) Proprietary Limited (16.67 per cent). Further information can be found on our Internet site: http://www.bhpbilliton.com Australia Dr Robert Porter, Investor Relations Tel: +61 3 9609 3540 Mobile: +61 419 587 456 Email: Robert.Porter@bhpbilliton.com Mandy Frostick, Media Relations Tel: +61 3 9609 4157 Mobile: +61 419 546 245 Email: Mandy.J.Frostick@bhpbilliton.com United States Francis McAllister, Investor Relations Tel: +1 713 961 8625 Mobile: +1 713 480 3699 Email: Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com United Kingdom Ariane Gentil, Manager Communications Tel: +44 20 7747 3977 Mobile: +44 7881 518 715 Email: Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com South Africa Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations Tel: +27 11 376 3360 Mobile: +27 82 458 2587 Email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 Registered in Australia Registered Office: 600 Bourke Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Telephone +61 3 9609 3333 Facsimile +61 3 9609 3015 BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 Registered in England and Wales Registered Office: 1-3 Strand London WC2N 5HA United Kingdom Telephone +44 20 7747 3800 Facsimile +44 20 7747 3900