We saw Marius Kloppers, the BHP Billiton chief on CNBC squawk box on Friday. Joe Kernan was more interested in his beer tastes, he said no Fosters, yes to VB Bitter, no to the Outback Steakhouse, Kloppers is a vegetarian. And yes, he is coming to the World Cup, he will watch some games in Cape Town and at Soccer City. A city all by itself, I can't wait. Check out the video: Exclusive: BHP Billiton CEO on Mining Tax Hike. Phew, tough stuff from Kloppers (he does sound strangely like Nathaniel), but you know, they need to come out fighting. He talks about a rule change.
And this WSJ article echoes what he was really there to discuss, the proposed giant hike of Aussie mining tax, not a done deal. Check out the article, because the threatening part is clear from themselves and other majors, go ahead in the current format and we WILL look elsewhere. This refers specifically to the JV between BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto: BHP Could Re-Evaluate Venture. And they lost the cricket last night. To three South Africans and an Irish fellow England.