Formerly Billiton Plc. Merged with BHP Limited of Australia in 2001 to form the dual listed company BHP Billiton. Billiton’s roots trace back to 1860 and a tin mine on a little known island in Indonesia, Billiton (Belitung) island. Billiton became a global leader in the metals and mining sector and a major producer of aluminium and alumina, chrome and manganese ores and alloys, steaming coal, nickel and titanium minerals. Billiton also developed a substantial and growing copper portfolio.