BHP Chief Executive Officer Andrew Mackenzie today updated progress on the Company’s roadmap to grow long-term shareholder value.

BHP Chief External Affairs Officer, Geoff Healy said Think Big was designed to demonstrate the important role BHP plays in the Australian economy and community and more broadly in global economic growth and development.

Samarco Mineração S.A (Samarco), BHP Billiton Brasil LTDA (BHP Billiton Brasil) and Vale. S.A (Vale) agreed a non-binding term sheet outlining the general terms and conditions for the use of Vale’s Timbopeba pit by Samarco to deposit its tailings, should Samarco restart. Vale would transfer the Timbopeba pit to Samarco and, as compensation, Samarco would supply to Vale an amount of non-processed ore (Run-of-Mine – ROM) for a certain period.

BHP Billiton has approved further financial support for Samarco.

The natural resources sector continues to play a vital role in underpinning the Queensland economy with an estimated $55.7 billion contribution to the state’s economy that delivers the equivalent of 309,500 full-time jobs across Queensland in 2015-16.

BHP Billiton notes the statement by the Ministerio Público Federal of Brazil (Federal Prosecutors Office) that it has filed criminal charges before the Federal Courts of Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais, against BHP Billiton Brasil Ltda. (BHP Billiton Brasil) and certain employees and former employees of BHP Billiton (Affected Individuals).

BHP Billiton Chairman, Jac Nasser, announced the appointment of Ken MacKenzie to the BHP Billiton Board as an independent Non-executive Director, effective as of 22 September 2016.

BHP Billiton is meeting the challenges of the global iron ore market through a focus on productivity and a "relentless pursuit of the basics" in its Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) operations. In a key note address at this year’s Global Iron Ore and Steel Forecast Conference, Asset President WAIO, Edgar Basto, spoke to the global market dynamics affecting one of Australia’s most important exports.

Samarco Mineracao S.A (Samarco) and its two shareholders, Vale S.A (Vale) and BHP Billiton Brasil LTDA (BHPB Brasil), have entered into an agreement with the Federal Attorney General of Brazil, the States of Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais and certain other public authorities (Brazilian Authorities) for the restoration of the environment and communities affected by the Samarco dam failure on 5 November 2015.

The Pyrenees development is located offshore Western Australia, in approximately 200 metres water depth, 45 kilometres northwest of Exmouth, and comprises six separate fields: Stickle, Crosby, Tanglehead, Moondyne, Wild Bull and Ravensworth. The project includes the tie back of the Stickle 9 well to the existing Tanglehead manifold.

BHP Billiton has announced the appointment of Flávio Bulcão as Country Director, Brazil, effective immediately. Mr Bulcão will lead the BHP Billiton team based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil supporting Samarco in the humanitarian, environmental and operational recovery efforts following the breach of the Fundão tailings dam in Minas Gerais on 5 November 2015.

BHP Billiton President Copper, Daniel Malchuk, announced plans to lower copper unit costs to US$1.08 per pound in the 2017 financial year, supporting strong cash margins even at today’s prices. Over this period, the release of latent capacity across the portfolio will also help annual Group copper production grow to approximately 1.7 Mt at very low cost. This strong recovery will be supported by our differentiated water and power solutions in Chile which will provide us with a significant competitive advantage.

Vale and BHP Billiton announced plans to work together, with Samarco, to establish a voluntary, non-profit fund to support the rescue and recuperation of the Rio Doce river system, affected by an accident at Samarco’s Fundão dam, in the state of Minas Gerais on November 5.

BHP Billiton notes the range of media reports and public commentary on the composition of the tailings released from the Samarco Fundão dam, in Minas Gerais, Brazil, on 5 November 2015.

BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc confirm that Mr Cordeiro retired as a non-executive Director of the Company with effect from 19 November 2015.

This update provides further information on the incident at the Samarco Mineração S.A (Samarco) iron ore operation in Minas Gerais, Brazil on Thursday, 5 November 2015. Each of BHP Billiton and Vale holds a 50 percent interest in Samarco.

Samarco has advised that, at this stage, there are nine fatalities. Samarco has also advised that four people previously unaccounted for have been found and 19 people remain unaccounted for. We offer our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who have died as a result of this tragic incident.

A new study has delivered an unprecedented account of water resources in Western Australia's Pilbara region, providing an in-depth understanding of local water systems and the potential impacts of climate change on water availability. The Pilbara Water Resource Assessment project, a $3.5 million partnership between Csiro, BHP Billiton and the Government of Western Australian, will allow water managers and local industry to plan for future water use in an area rich in resources and environmental assets.

Cimic Group’s global mining contractor, Thiess, has been awarded a $160 million contract with BHP Billiton Nickel West to undertake operations at the Rocky’s Reward nickel mine at Leinster, approximately 400 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

Students from regional Queensland have been given the tools to be future tradies following a ‘Make it now in Trades' (MINT) challenge. The week-long challenge, a collaboration of BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) and the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) involved 20 students who had expressed interest in a trade career.

The head of Queensland’s peak resources sector body says the sector is saddened by yesterday’s death of a man at Blackwater Mine in Central Queensland.