BHP Billiton Limited
(ASX:BHP) has been fined as part-owner of one of the world's largest zinc and copper mines for a toxic slurry spill last year in Peru.
Peru's Environment Minister says the Antamina consortium was fined $80,000 for infractions that included a delay in alerting authorities.
Immediately after the July 25 spill, he had called for the maximum penalty of $US13 million.
Antamina's owners are BHP Billiton, Glencore-Xstrata, Teck Cominco and Mitsubishi Corp.
The slurry caused local villagers to fall sick.
BHP generated a net profit $4.1 billion in the first half of the current financial year.
