Diversified miner BHP Billiton is hopeful that its application for the renewal of its exploration licence at the Corridor Sands 
titanium minerals project, in Mozambique, will be successful, its CEO, Marius Kloppers, says.

“We’ve got an exploration permit that runs until October 2009, and we’ve applied for a 
renewal.

“Obviously, whether it is renewed or not is actually not our choice. 
“At the end of the day, the resources belong to Mozambique, but we are obviously hopeful that we will be successful,” Kloppers tells Mining Weekly.

His comments follow a Reuters report that Mozambique has reclaimed ownership of the Corridor Sands project after BHP Billion found it to be unviable.

“We haven’t had any official notification, so it’s a little difficult for me to speculate on that.”

BHP Billiton ceased its Corridor Sands prefeasibility study at the end of March, but, subsequent to that – in July – the company 
applied for its licence to be renewed for a 
further 12 months, BHP Billiton South Africa investor and media relations head Bronwyn Wilkinson confirms.

BHP Billiton partners Rio Tinto at the Richards Bay Minerals’ mineral sands 
operation on South Africa’s East Coast.

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