Report Parameters
Purpose of Reporting
Our Sustainable Development Policy states that we are committed to 'regularly review our performance and publicly report our progress'. We do this as:
- a demonstration of accountability and transparency
- a central element of effective stakeholder engagement
- a management tool, providing a collation of performance data and statement of key issues and related management approaches.
Our annual reporting approach is evolving in line with changing stakeholder and societal expectations, report feedback and our own learnings. Since 1997 when we began with environmental reporting, we have expanded the areas in which we report to reflect BHP Billiton's maturing approach to sustainable development through the improved integration of social, environmental, ethical and economic factors into all that we do.
Audience
Our Report audience is diverse, ranging from those with minimal knowledge of our operations to those who are familiar with our business and processes. Our stakeholders range from groups such as employees, local communities, shareholders and contractors to non-government organisations, unions, socially responsible investment analysts, governments and academia. Read more: Our Stakeholders.
It remains an ongoing challenge for us to ensure our Report meets the needs of, and remains relevant to, such a broad range of stakeholder groups. In planning the 2006 Report we engaged with a various stakeholders to assess their reaction to both content and presentation. Read more: Dialogue in 2006.
Given the size and nature of our organisation, we recognise that it is not possible for the Company's Sustainability Report to comprehensively meet the information needs of all our stakeholders, particularly at the local and regional level. Our operations produce annual public site HSEC or sustainability reports to provide a review of HSEC issues and performance specific to their site circumstances, regional context and stakeholder needs.
Indicator Selection
The decision as to which indictors are reported within our Sustainability Report is based on:
- consideration of the key health, safety, environment, community and socio-economic risks of our business
- consideration of stakeholder feedback and commentary with regards to issues of materiality
- our support of industry-based reporting initiatives such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Industry Sector Supplement for Mining and Metals
- a desire to continually improve our 'in accordance' reporting with the GRI and progressively meet the new requirements of the draft G3 update to the GRI
- meeting our public commitments.
Read more:
- Dialogue in 2006 for details on our stakeholder consultation processes
- Our Sustainability Challenges for details on how we have determined the material non-financial matters for our business.
Data Collection and Basis
The statistics in this Report cover the facilities owned and operated by BHP Billiton during the 12-month period to 30 June 2006. Data is reported on a 100 per cent basis for facilities operated by BHP Billiton irrespective of our equity share, unless otherwise stated. Joint venture projects that are not operated by us are excluded unless expressly stated. All dollar figures in the Report are US unless otherwise stated.
As reported previously, BHP Billiton took control of WMC Resources Ltd (WMC) in June 2005. The timing of the transaction and variations between the two companies' data collection and reporting systems precluded data from WMC assets being incorporated in the previous 2004/05 reporting year. Historic WMC sustainability data can be viewed online.
For this reporting year, data from former WMC assets has been included where it can be directly aggregated with BHP Billiton data. Data from former WMC assets has been excluded from the Group’s intensity indices as they were not part of BHP Billiton's business when the baselines were set. The Group’s intensity indices have also been modified to exclude data from the Chrome business in all years, including the base year, as this business was divested in 2005.
The closure of the Boodarie Iron facility (Australia) was announced in August 2005, and detailed decommissioning plans are being developed. HSEC data, however, will continue to be collected with respect to this facility.
We are continuously improving our reporting systems and endeavour to present useful and accurate information.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, including the figures, in this Report, the data is derived from our many operations around the world and, in some cases, grouped data is not strictly comparable. In addition, as we seek to improve our data collection processes, data may not be strictly comparable year on year. Anyone seeking to rely on information in this Report or seeking to draw detailed conclusions from the data should contact the Company for verification and assistance.
Acquisitions and divestments
Effective 1 June 2006, we sold our Peruvian Tintaya copper mine to Xstrata plc. The sale also included the nearby undeveloped deposits of Antapaccay and Corrocohuayco.
On 9 May 2006 we entered into an agreement for the sale of Southern Cross Fertilisers Pty Ltd (SCF) to Incitec Pivot Limited. SCF produces high-analysis phosphate fertilisers from its facilities in northern Queensland and was originally acquired by BHP Billiton as part of the acquisition of WMC. The WMC fertilisers business was identified as a non-core asset at the time of the acquisition, and its sale follows the earlier sale of SCF’s one third interest in Hi-Fert Pty Ltd in December 2005. The sale of SCF was completed on 1 August 2006.
On 21 June 2006 BHP Billiton announced that it had agreed to sell its Australian coal bed methane (CBM) interests to The Australian Gas Light Company (AGL). The sale, which is effective 1 January 2006, was completed on 21 August 2006.
For the purposes of this Report, performance data for these interests is included to the point of divestment.
Explanation of Company Terms
BHP Billiton is a Dual Listed Company comprising BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc, and their subsidiaries. The two entities continue to exist as separate companies but operate as a combined group known as BHP Billiton.
The headquarters of BHP Billiton Limited and the global headquarters of the combined BHP Billiton Group are located in Melbourne, Australia. BHP Billiton Plc is located in London, UK. Both companies have identical Boards of Directors and are run by a unified management team. Throughout this Report, the Boards are referred to collectively as the Board. The terms BHP Billiton, the Company and the Group refer to the combined group, including both BHP Billiton Limited and subsidiary companies and BHP Billiton Plc and subsidiary companies.
For further explanation of the terms used throughout this Report, refer to our Glossary.
BHP Billiton Limited. ABN 49 004 028 077.
Registered in Australia.
Registered Office:
BHP Billiton Centre, 180 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.
BHP Billiton Plc. Registration Number 3196209.
Registered in England and Wales.
Registered Office: Neathouse Place, London SW1V 1BH, United Kingdom.
