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Property, plant and equipment - Summary of property, plant and equipment (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | $ 3,882 | $ 4,198 | $ 4,567
Average borrowing rate used for capitalisation of interest | 4.90% | 4.45% |
Loans secured by non-current assets collateral | $ 4,562 | $ 4,677 |
Capitalised production phase stripping costs [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Capitalised production phase stripping costs, carrying amount | 2,050 | 1,815 |
Capitalisation of property, plant and equipment | 526 |  |
Capitalisation offset by depreciation | 274 |  |
Capitalised production phase stripping costs [Member] | Property, plant and equipment [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Capitalised production phase stripping costs, carrying amount | 1,572 | 1,374 |
Capitalised production phase stripping costs [Member] | Investment in equity accounted units [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Capitalised production phase stripping costs, carrying amount | 478 | 441 |
Capitalised production phase stripping costs [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | 134 | 194 | $ 203
Freehold [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Land and buildings carrying amount | 6,240 | 7,294 |
Long leasehold [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Land and buildings carrying amount | $ 23 | 82 |
Land [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment | Not depreciated |  |
Buildings [Member] | Bottom of range [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment | 5 years |  |
Buildings [Member] | Top of range [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment | 50 years |  |
Plant and equipment [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | $ 2,836 | $ 3,122 |
Plant and equipment [member] | Bottom of range [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment | 3 years |  |
Plant and equipment [member] | Top of range [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment | P50Y |  |
Power generating assets [Member] | Bottom of range [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment | P25Y |  |
Power generating assets [Member] | Top of range [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment | P50Y |  |
Capital works in progress [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment | Not depreciated |  |

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