BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP.AU) will cut up to 70 jobs at its Mount Keith nickel mine in Western Australia state to keep the operation viable, the company said Tuesday.

The job cuts will affect up to 8% of the workforce totaling 850 employees but won't impact on nickel concentrate production.

Mount Keith forms part of BHP's Nickel West operation, a significant nickel producing complex.

"As is our normal practice, all our operations are continually under review. 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," BHP said in a statement.

-By Elisabeth Behrmann, Dow Jones Newswires;

61-2-8272-4689 elisabeth.behrmann@dowjones.com