Cash flow The following table provides a summary of the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement contained in section 5.1.4 to show the key sources and uses of cash during the periods presented: 2019 USSM 2018 USSM 2017 USSM Year ended 30 June Cash generated from operations Dividends received 23,428 516 22,949 709 18,612 636 Net interest paid (903) Proceeds/(settlements) of cash management related instruments Net taxation paid (887) (292) (4,918) (984) (140) (2,248) 296 (5,940) Net operating cash flows from Continuing operations 17,397 17,561 15,876 Net operating cash flows from Discontinued operations 474 900 928 Net operating cash lows Purchases of property, plant and equipment Exploration expenditure 17,871 18,461 16,804 (6,250) (4,979) (874) (3,697) (966) (873) Subtotal: Capital and exploration expenditure Exploration expenditure expensed and included in operating cash flows Net investment and funding of equity accounted investments Other imvesting activities (7,123) (5,853) (4,663) 516 641 610 (630) (140) 204 (234) 563 (52) Net investing cash flows from Continuing operations (7,377) (5,060) (3,724) Net investing cash flows from Discontinued operations Proceeds from divestment of Onshore US, net of its cash (443) 10,427 (861) (437) Net investing cash flows 2,607 (5,921) (4,161) Net repayment of interest bearing liabilities Share buy-back - BHP Group Limited Dividends paid (2,514) (5,220) (11,395) (1,198) (188) (3,878) (5,501) Dividends paid to non-controlling interests Other financing activities (5,220) (1,582) (171) (2,921) (575) (108) Net financing cash flows from Continuing operations (20,515) (10,851) (9,105) Net financing cash flows from Discontinued operations (13) (40) (28) Net financing cash flows (20,528) (10,891) (9,133) Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents from Continuing operations (10,477) 1649 3,510 (10,495) 1,650 3,047 Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from Discontinued operations 18 (1) 463 Net operating cash inflows of US$17.9 billion decreased by US$0.6 billion. This decrease reflects increased costs (including putages and weather impact) and higher Australian and Chilean ncome tax payments in FY2019 offset by strong commodity prices and record production from several of our operations. Net financing cash outflows of US$20.5 billion increased by US$9.6 billion. This reflects the off-market buy-back of BHP Group Limited shares of uS$5.2 billion in December 2018, the special dividend of US$5.2 billion paid in January 2019 from the Onshore US asset sale (net proceeds) and higher dividends to BHP shareholders of US$1.0 billion partially offset by lower repayments of interest bearing liabilities of US$1.6 billion and lower dividends to non-controlling interests of US$0.4 billion. Net investing cash inflows of US$2.6 billion increased by JS$8.5 billion. The increase reflects the proceeds from the divestment of Onshore US, net of its cash partially offset by continued investment in high-return latent capacity projects, and increased investment in South Flank, Mad Dog Phase 2 and the Spence Growth Option. Higher net investment and Funding of equity accounted investments relate to the FY2018 cash receipt from Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group not For more information, refer to section 1.12.3 and note 19 'Net debt' in section 5. O Strategic Report Governance at BHP Remuneration Report Directors Renort Financial Statements