BHP Billiton Shifts Responsibility for Potash Unit

   By Rhiannon Hoyle 
 

SYDNEY--BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP.AU) said it was shifting responsibility for its potash unit to group project-management executive Dean Dalla Valle.

On Tuesday, the mining company named Mr. Dalla Valle as chief commercial officer and said he, rather than petroleum president Tim Cutt, would now oversee BHP's potash interests.

BHP has exploration rights to land in Canada's Saskatchewan potash basin, with the Jansen deposit its most advanced project. The world's biggest miner aims to build its potash unit into a "fifth pillar" of its business alongside commodities such as iron ore and copper.

Melbourne-based BHP has regularly reiterated its commitment to the Jansen project, although its current investment covers only early work, including the sinking of production-and-service shafts.

Mr. Dalla Valle's current role as president of health, safety, environment, marketing and technology includes overseeing project management, "making the potash project a strategic fit for his portfolio," BHP said in a statement. It said Mr. Dalla Valle would keep his existing responsibilities.

"At the same time, the changes will allow [Mr.] Cutt, to concentrate exclusively on growing the value of the petroleum business," BHP said. It added that Mr. Dalla Valle would assume responsibility for the potash assets from Aug. 1.

Write to Rhiannon Hoyle at [e-mail]

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