Former BHP COO seeks Optimum purchase

摘要

BHP Billiton Energy Coal SA is negotiating for the sale of its loss-making Optimum colliery with a Black Empowerment consortium headed by its former chief operating officer, Eliphus Monkoe. The negotiations also embrace the sale of Optimum's Richards Bay entitlement. BHPB said that the consortium is committed to undertaking the "Optimum Expansion Project" to ensure the mine continues to be a major producer. Formal agreement on the sale should be completed in Q2, says BHPB.