| Mon 2 Sep 2002, 0:00 | | BHP Billiton PLC - Appointment of Director |
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Appointment of Director, Southern Africa Energy at BHP Billiton SA (Pty)
Limited
Date 2 September 2002
BHP Billiton announces the appointment of Dr Zavareh Rustomjee to the
position of Director, Southern Africa Energy, based in Johannesburg. In
his new role Zavareh will hold responsibility for the Group`s regional
energy strategy.
He will have specific responsibility for managing the group`s South
African energy exposures in aluminium, coal, manganese and chrome to the
planned restructuring of the Electricity Supply Industry, as well as
investigating any energy components in the group`s business development
opportunities.
The Director, South Africa Energy will be a member of the BHP Billiton`s
global Energy group, drawing on resources in the marketing and
development activities in offices in The Hague, Singapore, London and
Melbourne.
Further information can be found on our website:
http//www.bhpbilliton.com
South Africa
Michael Campbell
Vice President Investor and Media Relations
Tel: (011) 376-3360/3561
Fax: (011) 376-3362
Mobile: 082 458 2587
E-mail: michael.j.campbell@bhpbilliton.com
Notes to Editors
BHP Billiton has a significant position in the Energy Sector in South
Africa. Through Ingwe, it is one of the country`s single largest fuel
suppliers (about 40% of coal supply) to power generators and at the same
time is also one of the regions largest power consumers (at around 15%
of regional demand) mostly via its smelters in South Africa and
Mozambique. It also has oil and gas exploration positions offshore
South Africa. Together these place BHP Billiton as one of the regions
single largest direct overseas investors and with material interest in
the energy sector.
The South African Government has begun to examine the current
electricity market paradigm and is investigating the most appropriate
regulatory and industry structure to introduce competition, and
improved efficiency and accountability into the electricity supply
industry.
It is stated Government Policy that the power generation, transmission
and distribution functions of Eskom (the government-owned electricity
utility) will be separated into different companies; that economic
empowerment participation in 10% of existing power generation must be
assured by 2003; that a further 20% of existing capacity will be
privatised by 2006; and that new generation capacity will be funded by
private investment.
On the basis of current and future global and regional investment plans,
BHP Billiton is a significant stakeholder in any restructuring.
Therefore it is critical to be closely involved in the restructuring
process, so that existing businesses are not adversely affected, and any
business opportunities presented by restructuring can be grasped.
Recognising that while the BHP Billiton group is energy short, needing
power to run smelters, furnaces, trains and draglines, it is at the same
time energy long, thanks to its oil and gas assets and from the
production of Energy Coal. It has established a Global Energy group to
develop value adding opportunities: to offer more comprehensive product
packages to customers, to deliver different products as relative prices
change, to develop energy related projects and to achieve beneficial
trading positions on the basis of the group`s physical assets.
The appointment of Dr Rustomjee will establish that Energy group`s
footprint in South Africa and will ensure that BHP Billiton has a
holistic regional strategy on Energy, matched with senior management
capability to develop and implement that strategy.
Dr Rustomjee has previously held senior advisory positions in the
Department of Minerals and Energy Affairs and the Department of Trade
and Industry where he was Director General between 1994-1999. His
experience in regional energy strategy development will add
significantly to BHP Billiton in South Africa and across the Group`s
broader energy holdings. He is a Non-Executive Director of the
Industrial Development Corporation and Sasol Ltd. He is married with 3
children.
ends
Date: 02/09/2002 08:31:16 AM Produced by the JSE SENS Department
