BHP BHP Group Limited

By Rhiannon Hoyle

SYDNEY--BHP Billiton Ltd., the world's largest listed mining company, said it will leave the World Coal Association because of a disagreement on climate policy.

BHP, which runs the world's biggest coking coal export operations, announced in December it was reviewing its membership in the coal industry body, a global lobbyist for miners including Anglo American PLC and Glencore PLC.

BHP disagreed with the association's push for Australia to abandon its clean-energy targets and promote the use of lower-emission coal.

"In light of the material difference identified by the review and the narrow range of activities of benefit to BHP from membership, BHP has reached a final view that it will cease membership of the WCA," the miner said in a statement on its website.

The World Coal Association said it was disappointed by the decision, given BHP "was involved in developing our position on energy and climate change."

"We have compared our position on energy and climate policies with those set out in BHP's Industry Association Review, and believe there are no material differences between the two," said Benjamin Sporton, Chief Executive of the coal group.

BHP also reviewed its membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which the miner on Thursday said it will retain.

"While the material differences identified by the review remain at this time, BHP derives a range of benefits from the broader activities of the Chamber, particularly its advocacy on economic issues such as free trade," BHP said.

Write to Rhiannon Hoyle at rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 05, 2018 01:21 ET (05:21 GMT)

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