Cash and cash equivalents

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Cash And Cash Equivalents [Abstract]

Cash and cash equivalents

Strategic Report

Governance Report

Financial Statements

Production, Reserves
and Operations

Additional Information

21 Cash and cash equivalents

				2017			2016
	Note		US$m			US$m
Cash at bank and in hand				1,035			956
Money market funds and other cash equivalents				9,515			7,245
Balance per Group balance sheet				10,550			8,201
Bank overdrafts repayable on demand (unsecured)		22		(3	)		(12	)
Balance per Group cash flow statement				10,547			8,189

Cash and cash equivalents of US$290 million (2016: US$358 million) are held in countries where there are restrictions on remittances. Of this balance, US$158 million (2016: US$252 million) could be used to repay subsidiaries’ third-party borrowings.

There are also restrictions on a further US$1,089 million (2016: US$1,051 million) of cash and cash equivalents, the majority of which is held by partially owned subsidiaries and is not available for use in the wider Group due to legal and contractual restrictions currently in place. Of this balance US$703 million (2016: US$766 million) could be used to repay subsidiaries’ third-party borrowings.