RNS Number:3515T
BHP Billiton PLC
17 December 2003


Date                 17 December 2003
Number               39/03


    BHP BILLITON SIGNS GAS SALE AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH TXU ELECTRICITY


BHP Billiton, together with its joint venturer Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd,
today announced the signing of a substantial gas sale and purchase agreement
with TXU Electricity Ltd (TXU).

The agreement is for the sale and purchase of 825 petajoules gross of Bass
Strait gas to TXU in the period 2004 to 2017. First gas sales are scheduled to
commence on 1 January 2004.

"This is a significant milestone for the Bass Strait joint venture involving one
of the largest sales of Gippsland gas since long-term supply arrangements were
entered into with the Victorian Government in the late 1960s," said Philip
Aiken, President and Chief Executive Officer for BHP Billiton Petroleum.

Currently, the majority of gas entering the South Eastern Australia gas market
is supplied under a long-term contract between BHP Billiton/Esso and the
previously State Government owned Gascor. This contract is due to expire towards
the end of the decade.

"The agreement is consistent with BHP Billiton's gas marketing strategy which is
to increase our market diversification and secure new gas markets and volumes,"
Mr Aiken said.

In the 34 years since the BHP Billiton/Esso Bass Strait joint venture began
production in October 1969, more than 3.5 billion barrels of oil and 5 trillion
cubic feet of gas have been produced. Current production is around 120 thousand
barrels per day of crude and condensate, and 570 million cubic feet per day of
gas.

BHP Billiton and Esso are also continuing with exploration and production
activity in the Gippsland Basin. In October the joint venture announced that it
is planning to commence what is expected to be the largest combined exploration
and production drilling program in the Gippsland Basin since the 1980s.

BHP Billiton has a 50 percent interest in the Bass Strait oil and gas project
with joint venturer Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd (50 percent, operator).


Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: http://
www.bhpbilliton.com

Australia                                                     United Kingdom
Andrew Nairn, Investor Relations                              Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952 Mobile: +61 408 313 259                  Tel: +44 20 7802 4156
email: Andrew.W.Nairn@bhpbilliton.com                         email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com
Tania Price, Media Relations                                  Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3815 Mobile: +61 419 152 780                  Tel: +44 20 7802 4177
email: Tania.Price@bhpbilliton.com                            email: Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com

United States                                                 South Africa
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations                        Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +1 713 961 8625 Mobile: +1 713 480 3699                  Tel: +27 11 376 3360 Mobile: +27 82 458 2587
email: Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com                   email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com

BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077                       BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209
Registered in Australia                                       Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: Level 27, 180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne    Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH United
Victoria 3000                                                 Kingdom
Telephone +61 1300 554 757 Facsimile +61 3 9609 3015          Telephone +44 20 7802 4000 Facsimile +44 20 7802 4111

                  The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia




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