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 rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com
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