BHP Billiton Plc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a resources company that discovers, acquires, develops, and markets natural resources worldwide. It operates through four segments: Petroleum, Copper, Iron Ore, and Coal. The company engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas; development and mining of potash; and mining of copper, silver, lead, zinc, molybdenum, uranium, gold, iron ore, metallurgical coal, and thermal coal. It is also involved in the exploration, development, and production of hydrocarbons; and provision of freight, administrative, and logistics services. In addition, the company engages in marketing and trading, and finance businesses, as well as is involved in nickel mining, smelting, refining, and administrative business. The company was formerly known as Billiton Plc. The company was incorporated in 1996 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. BHP Billiton Plc is a subsidiary of BHP Billiton Group.