News.com.au reported that up to 70 jobs have been slashed to help ensure the economic viability of a West Australian nickel mine of BHP Billiton.

BHPB announced that up to 70 jobs would be cut at its Mt Keith operation, near Leinster, in the eastern Goldfields.

It said "BHP Billiton today announced changes to achieve a more competitive site organization and help ensure the economic viability of its Mt Keith Operation. Regrettably, these changes are likely to result in up to 70 job losses and some work realignment.''

BHP said it would consult with its employees and seek to redeploy them to other sites. It said "Where redeployment is not possible, BHP Billiton will provide full entitlements and support services to employees and their families, including outplacement services.”

It also said that all BHP operations were continually under review. It said "We have consistently said that we would take appropriate action for any operation that is either cash negative and set to remain so, or if we cannot sell what we are producing.''

In January BHP laid off 300 workers at the same mine which coincided with the announcement it would close its Ravensthorpe nickel mine, in WA's south. In May BHP announced it would mothball its Rocky's Rewards open pit nickel operation at Leinster. It announced a round of redundancies affecting 240 people, blaming a deterioration in nickel prices for the closure of the mine.

In January BHP flagged plans to sack about 6000 employees globally.

(Sourced from www.news.com.au)