BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP, Stock Forum) Wednesday reported a fiscal 2012 net profit of $15.4 billion, down 34.8% from $23.6 billion during the previous fiscal year. Revenue rose 0.7% to $72.2 billion from $71.7 billion.
The world's biggest miner blamed its performance on lower commodity prices and write-downs on its shale gas and nickel assets.
BHP also announced it was delaying a plan for a $30 billion expansion of its Olympic Dam uranium and copper mine in southern Australia. And, Reuters reported BHP Billiton may officially announce today that the Jansen Lake potash mine east of Saskatoon could be put on hold.