1Q 2006 operations review

Rio Tinto PLC 20 April 2006 First quarter 2006 operations review • Production of most principal commodities was above the comparative period of 2005. • Most mines and plants operated at or near capacity in order to take advantage of strong markets. • The Group's share of iron ore production increased by four per cent compared with the first quarter of 2005 as the expansion programme continued. This increase was achieved notwithstanding the impact of heavy rains following a succession of cyclones in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. • Strong operational performance at the Kennecott Utah Copper smelter led to significantly increased levels of refined production. The optimisation of mine production in favour of molybdenum continued. • Production from the Comalco Alumina Refinery increased in the first quarter and was the strongest quarter to date, with March production the best month since production commenced. • Higher production levels of titanium dioxide feedstocks reflected the strength of current customer demand. • Australian hard coking coal production was in line with a short term decline in demand, as customers drew down on inventories, pending settlement on prices for 2006. All currency figures in this report are US dollars unless otherwise stated. IRON ORE AND IRON Rio Tinto share of production (000 tonnes) Q1 06 vs Q1 05 vs Q4 05 Hamersley 20,371 +9% -9% Robe River 5,986 -9% -19% IOC (pellets and concentrate) 1,871 -7% -23% Global iron ore demand remains strong with supply limited. In March, the Hope Downs Joint Venture lodged a development application for its iron ore prospect with the Western Australian government. In April, Rio Tinto was granted a mining concession by the Government of Guinea for the development of the Simandou iron ore project in west Africa. Hamersley and Robe River Adverse weather associated with a very active cyclone season affected the Group's iron ore operations in Western Australia. Following five cyclones, four of which crossed the coast, heavy rains resulted in temporary closures of the rail line and flooding of several mines. Production was disrupted at Hamersley and Robe leading to some lost tonnage in the first quarter. The severity of the weather conditions is likely to have a modest effect on iron ore production early in the second quarter and a consequent increase in unit cash costs. Notwithstanding this, Hamersley's first quarter production was nine per cent higher than the corresponding quarter of 2005 whilst production at Pannawonica and West Angelas was lower than the same period in 2005 and the preceding quarter. HIsmelt HIsmelt commenced production in 2005 and process trials continued throughout the first quarter of 2006, with 4,033 tonnes of pig iron produced. A two month furnace re-line took place during the quarter and the plant was restarted on 1 April. The plant has reached production rates of 35 per cent of nameplate capacity, in line with expectations, and is continuing to ramp up production. Iron Ore Company of Canada First quarter production was constrained by severe winter weather. ENERGY US thermal coal Rio Tinto share of production (000 tonnes) Q1 06 vs Q1 05 vs Q4 05 Kennecott Energy 29,481 +1% +1% Production was one per cent above the first and last quarter of 2005 mainly due to the acceleration of the approved expansion project at the Antelope mine, where a quarterly production record was set. This increase more than offset a decline in production at Spring Creek following a planned two week outage to upgrade the crushing, conveying and loading facilities. Australian coal Rio Tinto share of production (000 tonnes) Q1 06 vs Q1 05 vs Q4 05 Rio Tinto Coal Australia Hard coking coal 1,126 -41% -29% Other coal 7,618 -5% +1% Production of hard coking coal at Hail Creek matched a short term decline in demand during the first quarter. Most customers had lifted contract tonnage by the end of 2005 and relied on stocks in anticipation of lower price settlements in 2006. Production from the Hunter Valley operations was in line with the allocation set under the Port Waratah Coal Services capacity balancing system. INDUSTRIAL MINERALS Rio Tinto share of production (000 tonnes) Q1 06 vs Q1 05 vs Q4 05 Borates 129 +6% -15% Titanium dioxide feedstock 344 +7% +3% First quarter borates production was six per cent higher than the first quarter of 2005 which was affected by prolonged wet weather at the Boron mine in California. Production fell compared with the fourth quarter in line with customer deliveries. Increased production of titanium dioxide feedstocks reflected the strength of current demand and QIT's recently completed Upgraded Slag (UGS) expansion to 325,000 tonnes per annum. The UGS expansion to 375,000 tonnes per annum is proceeding as scheduled. ALUMINIUM Rio Tinto share of production (000 tonnes) Q1 06 vs Q1 05 vs Q4 05 Rio Tinto Aluminium Bauxite 3,843 +12% -16% Alumina 778 +10% +4% Aluminium 207.1 -1% -4% Bauxite production was 12 per cent higher than the comparative period in 2005 attributable to the successful commissioning of the Andoom mine and processing plant within the NeWeipa project. The decrease compared with the preceding quarter was due to wet weather in January and full product stockpiles. First quarter production from the Comalco Alumina Refinery at 257,000 tonnes was the highest quarter to date as the plant ramps up to nameplate capacity of 1.4 million tonnes per annum. Production at Queensland Alumina and Eurallumina was in line with the first quarter of 2005. Production at the aluminium smelters was slightly behind the first quarter of 2005, primarily due to voluntary production cutbacks at Tiwai Point, because of low rainfall and consequent hydropower constraints. COPPER Rio Tinto share of production (000 tonnes) Q1 06 vs Q1 05 vs Q4 05 Kennecott Utah Copper Mined copper (000 tonnes) 61.6 -1% +19% Refined copper (000 tonnes) 70.9 +24% +9% Molybdenum (000 tonnes) 4.4 +14% -3% Mined gold (000 ozs) 133 +11% +28% Refined gold (000 ozs) 118 +31% +7% Escondida Mined copper (000 tonnes) 100.4 +18% +0% Grasberg JV Mined copper (000 tonnes) 11.9 -54% -69% Mined gold (000 ozs) 9 -94% -96% Kennecott Utah Copper The optimisation of mine production in favour of molybdenum continued. Gold contained in copper concentrate was higher compared to the same period in 2005 due to higher grades. Production of molybdenum increased compared to the first quarter of 2005 as a result of improved recovery rates following the completion of the moly plant expansion project at the end of the second quarter of 2005. Refined copper and gold production was higher in the first quarter of 2006 compared with the same period of 2005 due to strong operational performance at the smelter. Escondida First quarter mined copper production was 18 per cent higher than the first quarter of 2005 as a result of higher grades and production from the Norte pit following its commissioning in September 2005. Grasberg Lower grades for copper, gold and silver as a result of mine sequencing led to lower production for all three commodities. Other copper operations Higher volumes of copper concentrate at Palabora were attributable to increased throughput whilst lower levels of concentrate smelted and anode production resulted from a scheduled 40 day smelter shutdown. At Northparkes, increased production compared to the first and last quarters of 2005 reflected the move to Lift 2 underground ore where grades are significantly higher. DIAMONDS Rio Tinto share of production (000 carats) Q1 06 vs Q1 05 vs Q4 05 Argyle 5,214 -40% -19% Diavik 1,073 +2% -2% Argyle Tonnes processed for the quarter were lower than the same quarter of 2005 due to wet weather and the processing of ore of variable quality. Carat production reflects the lower tonnes processed and lower grade in line with the revised life of mine plan. Continuing variability in production levels can be expected as the mine reaches the end of the open-pit life. Diavik Throughput at Diavik was comparable with the prior quarter and the first quarter of 2005. Grades were similar to the previous quarter with a relatively constant mix from higher grade A154S ore and lower grade A154N ore. EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION Pre-tax expenditure on exploration and evaluation charged to the profit and loss account to the first quarter 2006 was US$57 million compared with US$30 million in the comparable quarter of 2005. US$13 million of this expenditure was charged against business unit earnings. In the Pilbara region of Western Australia five new iron ore deposits were handed over to the product group evaluation team. Exploration drilling continued on copper targets in Chile, Argentina, Mexico and the US. Diamond exploration continued in Canada, Botswana, Mauritania, India and Brazil. Iron ore exploration continued in Western Australia and in west Africa. Exploration for thermal and coking coal opportunities continued in southern Africa, North America, South America and Mongolia. At La Sampala (nickel, Indonesia), negotiations for a Contract of Work continued. Progress is being made to advance ongoing exploration and evaluation of the La Granja copper (Peru) and Jarandol borate (Serbia) projects, both won by competitive tender in the fourth quarter of 2005. Brownfield exploration is underway at a number of Rio Tinto businesses, with notable efforts to expand resources continuing in the Pilbara, at Kennecott Utah Copper, on the Freeport and Cortez Joint Ventures, at Greens Creek and at Northparkes. Evaluation work continued at Eagle (nickel/copper, US), Sari Gunay (gold, Iran), Resolution (copper/gold, US), Potasio Rio Colorado (potash, Argentina) and Simandou (iron ore, Guinea). CAPITAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME During the first quarter of 2006, the Group bought back $378 million of Rio Tinto plc shares under the 2006/2007 $2.5 billion share buyback programme announced on 2 February 2006. This replaced the 2005/2006 programme under which $972 million was returned to shareholders of Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited. For further information, please contact: LONDON AUSTRALIA Media Relations Media Relations Hugh Leggatt Ian Head Office: +44 (0) 20 7753 2273 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3620 Mobile: +44 (0) 7764 369 977 Mobile: +61 (0) 408 360 101 Investor Relations Investor Relations Nigel Jones Dave Skinner Office: +44 (0) 20 7753 2401 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3628 Mobile: +44 (0) 7917 227 365 Mobile: +61 (0) 408 335 309 David Ovington Susie Creswell Office: +44 (0) 20 7753 2326 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3639 Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 010978 Mobile: +61 (0) 418 933 792 Website: www.riotinto.com High resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk RIO TINTO PRODUCTION SUMMARY RIO TINTO SHARE OF PRODUCTION QUARTER FULL YEAR % CHANGE 2005 2005 2006 2005 Q1 06 Q1 06 Q1 Q4 Q1 vs vs Principal Commodities Q4 05 Q1 05 Alumina ('000 t) 710 748 778 2,963 4% 10% Aluminium ('000 t) 208.3 215.6 207.1 853.7 -4% -1% Borates ('000 t) 122 151 129 560 -15% 6% Coal - hard coking coal ('000 t) 1,902 1,585 1,126 7,195 -29% -41% Coal - other Australian ('000 t) 7,993 7,576 7,618 30,863 1% -5% Coal - US ('000 t) 29,240 29,135 29,481 115,580 1% 1% Copper - mined ('000 t) 188.2 210.7 196.5 784.4 -7% 4% Copper - refined ('000 t) 77.8 85.5 85.6 314.5 0% 10% Diamonds ('000 cts) 9,733 7,598 6,324 35,635 -17% -35% Gold - mined ('000 ozs) 460 469 221 1,726 -53% -52% Gold - refined ('000 ozs) 90 110 118 369 7% 31% Iron ore ('000 t) 27,618 32,522 28,668 124,494 -12% 4% Titanium dioxide feedstock ('000 t) 321 335 344 1,312 3% 7% Other Metals & Minerals Bauxite ('000 t) 3,443 4,576 3,843 15,474 -16% 12% Lead - mined ('000 t) 3.4 2.7 3.0 11.9 13% -10% Molybdenum ('000 t) 3.9 4.6 4.4 15.6 -3% 14% Pig Iron ('000 t) - 5.4 2.4 5.4 -55% - Salt ('000 t) 1,383 1,610 1,209 5,507 -25% -13% Silver - mined ('000 ozs) 4,020 3,982 3,180 14,926 -20% -21% Silver - refined ('000 ozs) 755 814 1,398 3,538 72% 85% Talc ('000 t) 325 346 381 1,364 10% 17% Uranium (tonnes) 1,617 1,785 1,508 6,582 -16% -7% Zinc - mined ('000 t) 10.0 8.7 8.6 37.2 -2% -14% Throughout this report, figures in italics indicate adjustments made since the figure was previously quoted on the equivalent page. Production figures are sometimes more precise than the rounded numbers shown, hence small differences may result between the total of the quarter figures and the full year figures. RIO TINTO SHARE OF PRODUCTION FULL Rio Tinto 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR interest 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2005 ALUMINA Production ('000 tonnes) Comalco Alumina Refinery 100% 196 228 191 220 257 835 Eurallumina 56% 148 150 150 153 152 601 Queensland Alumina 39% 366 401 384 375 369 1,526 Rio Tinto total alumina production 710 779 725 748 778 2,963 ALUMINIUM Refined production ('000 tonnes) Anglesey 51% 18.2 18.2 18.3 18.7 18.5 73.4 Bell Bay 100% 42.8 43.5 43.9 43.6 43.2 173.8 Boyne Island 59% 79.5 81.6 82.4 82.7 80.4 326.2 Tiwai Point 79% 67.8 70.0 72.0 70.6 65.0 280.3 Rio Tinto total aluminium production 208.3 213.3 216.6 215.6 207.1 853.7 BAUXITE Production ('000 tonnes) Weipa 100% 3,443 3,674 3,781 4,576 3,843 15,474 BORATES Borates ('000 tonnes B2O3 content) Rio Tinto total borate production 100% 122 146 141 151 129 560 COAL - HARD COKING Rio Tinto Coal Australia (a) ('000 tonnes) Hail Creek Coal 82% 1,136 1,223 1,208 1,270 617 4,838 Kestrel Coal 80% 766 729 547 315 508 2,357 Rio Tinto total hard coking coal 1,902 1,952 1,755 1,585 1,126 7,195 production COAL - OTHER * Rio Tinto Coal Australia (a) ('000 tonnes) Bengalla 30% 433 386 366 622 330 1,806 Blair Athol Coal 71% 1,892 1,789 1,994 1,876 1,730 7,551 Hunter Valley Operations 76% 2,525 2,292 2,259 2,293 2,124 9,369 Kestrel Coal 80% 160 227 143 89 125 619 Mount Thorley Operations 61% 597 648 664 491 763 2,400 Tarong Coal 100% 1,784 1,334 1,804 1,549 1,803 6,470 Warkworth 42% 602 622 766 657 744 2,647 Total Australian other coal 7,993 7,298 7,996 7,576 7,618 30,863 Kennecott Energy ('000 tonnes) Antelope 100% 6,687 6,788 7,287 6,413 7,501 27,174 Colowyo (b) 1,315 1,315 1,219 1,477 1,468 5,325 Cordero Rojo 100% 9,170 8,736 7,687 8,642 8,675 34,234 Decker 50% 540 872 841 890 776 3,144 Jacobs Ranch 100% 9,032 8,188 8,014 8,590 8,513 33,823 Spring Creek 100% 2,497 3,018 3,243 3,122 2,549 11,881 Total US coal 29,240 28,916 28,290 29,135 29,481 115,580 Rio Tinto total other coal 37,233 36,214 36,286 36,710 37,099 146,443 production COPPER Mine production ('000 tonnes) Bingham Canyon 100% 62.1 56.7 50.2 51.6 61.6 220.6 Escondida 30% 84.9 94.1 101.7 100.4 100.4 381.1 Grasberg - Joint Venture (c) 40% 25.7 22.0 23.6 38.2 11.9 109.6 Northparkes 80% 8.6 9.5 11.8 13.3 15.5 43.2 Palabora (d) 47% 6.9 7.7 8.2 7.2 7.2 30.0 Rio Tinto total mine production 188.2 190.1 195.4 210.7 196.5 784.4 Refined production ('000 tonnes) Escondida 30% 11.4 11.2 10.2 10.4 8.0 43.2 Kennecott Utah Copper 100% 57.2 41.5 68.1 65.1 70.9 232.0 Palabora (d) 47% 9.2 9.3 10.8 9.9 6.7 39.3 Rio Tinto total refined production 77.8 62.0 89.2 85.5 85.6 314.5 DIAMONDS Production ('000 carats) Argyle 100% 8,633 9,393 5,995 6,455 5,214 30,476 Diavik 60% 1,049 1,509 1,306 1,098 1,073 4,963 Murowa 78% 51 52 48 44 38 195 Rio Tinto total diamond production 9,733 10,954 7,349 7,598 6,324 35,635 Mine production figures for metals refer to the total quantity of metal produced in concentrates or dore bullion irrespective of whether these products are then refined on-site. • Coal - other includes thermal coal and semi-soft coking coal. See footnotes on page 10. RIO TINTO SHARE OF PRODUCTION (continued) FULL Rio Tinto 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR interest 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2005 GOLD Mine production ('000 ounces) Barneys Canyon 100% 4 4 4 4 4 16 Bingham Canyon 100% 115 95 92 99 129 401 Cortez/Pipeline 40% 88 110 89 74 35 361 Escondida 30% 16 13 13 13 12 55 Grasberg - Joint Venture (c) 40% 159 140 122 248 9 670 Greens Creek 70% 15 14 11 12 11 51 Kelian (e) 90% 31 8 - - - 38 Lihir (f) 0% 15 19 28 - - 61 Northparkes 80% 10 11 12 13 16 46 Rawhide 51% 6 5 3 4 4 18 Others - 2 2 2 2 2 7 Rio Tinto total mine production 460 420 376 469 221 1,726 Refined production ('000 ounces) Kennecott Utah Copper 100% 90 76 92 110 118 369 IRON ORE & IRON Production ('000 tonnes) Channar 60% 1,524 1,311 1,371 980 1,211 5,186 Corumba 100% 377 372 371 290 440 1,410 Eastern Range (g) 1,295 1,831 1,897 1,536 1,756 6,559 Hamersley 100% 15,836 19,704 18,915 19,931 17,404 74,387 Iron Ore Company of Canada (h) 59% 2,014 2,459 2,292 2,424 1,871 9,188 Robe River 53% 6,572 6,489 7,341 7,362 5,986 27,764 Rio Tinto total mine production 27,618 32,166 32,187 32,522 28,668 124,494 Pig iron production ('000 tonnes) HIsmelt(R) (i) 60% - - - 5 2 - LEAD Mine production ('000 tonnes) Greens Creek 70% 3.4 3.3 2.5 2.7 3.0 11.9 MOLYBDENUM Mine production ('000 tonnes) Bingham Canyon 100% 3.9 3.3 3.9 4.6 4.4 15.6 SALT Production ('000 tonnes) Dampier Salt 65% 1,383 1,392 1,121 1,610 1,209 5,507 SILVER Mine production ('000 ounces) Bingham Canyon 100% 1,140 1,050 884 884 1,036 3,958 Escondida 30% 434 439 505 593 457 1,970 Grasberg - Joint Venture (c) 40% 118 249 280 718 19 1,364 Greens Creek 70% 2,120 1,797 1,313 1,562 1,451 6,791 Others - 209 193 216 226 216 843 Rio Tinto total mine production 4,020 3,726 3,197 3,982 3,180 14,926 Refined production ('000 ounces) Kennecott Utah Copper 100% 755 1,138 830 814 1,398 3,538 TALC Production ('000 tonnes) Luzenac Group 100% 325 365 328 346 381 1,364 TITANIUM DIOXIDE FEEDSTOCK Production ('000 tonnes) Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium 100% 321 328 327 335 344 1,312 URANIUM Production (tonnes U3O8) Energy Resources of Australia 68% 1,025 936 1,035 1,040 938 4,037 Rossing 69% 592 497 712 745 569 2,545 Rio Tinto total uranium production 1,617 1,434 1,747 1,785 1,508 6,582 ZINC Mine production ('000 tonnes) Greens Creek 70% 10.0 10.4 8.1 8.7 8.6 37.2 Mine production figures for metals refer to the total quantity of metal produced in concentrates or dore bullion irrespective of whether these products are then refined on-site, except for the data for iron ore which represent production of saleable quantities of ore plus pellets. See footnotes on page 10. RIO TINTO SHARE OF PRODUCTION (continued) Production data notes (a) Rio Tinto Coal Australia manages all the operations below; including the mines which were previously reported separately under the Coal & Allied name. (b) In view of Kennecott Energy's responsibilities under a management agreement for the operation of the Colowyo mine, all of Colowyo's output is included in Rio Tinto's share of production. (c) Through a joint venture agreement with Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX), Rio Tinto is entitled to 40% of additional material mined as a consequence of expansions and developments of the Grasberg facilities since 1998. (d) During the second half of 2005, the conversion of debentures into ordinary shares resulted in a dilution of Rio Tinto's shareholding in Palabora from 49.2% to 47.2%. The conversions continued during the first quarter of 2006 and the Rio Tinto shareholding at the end of the quarter was 46.5%. (e) Kelian ceased processing ore on 7 February 2005 and the final gold pour was on 27 May 2005. (f) On 30 November 2005, Rio Tinto sold its interest in Lihir Gold; it had agreed in September 2005 to relinquish the management agreement for Lihir. The production data are shown up to 30 September 2005, from which date the Rio Tinto interest in Lihir was held as an investment rather than being equity accounted. (g) Rio Tinto's share of production includes 100% of the production from the Eastern Range mine. Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, Hamersley Iron manages the operation and is obliged to purchase all mine production from the joint venture. (h) Rio Tinto sold its 19% interest in the Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Income Fund on 23 March 2005. The Fund has a shareholding in Iron Ore Company of Canada but this was not included in the calculation of tonnage attributable to Rio Tinto. (i) HIsmelt(R) commenced production during 2005. Where Rio Tinto's beneficial interest in an operation has changed, as indicated above, the share of production has been calculated using the weighted average interest over the relevant periods. Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 March 2006. RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA FULL Rio Tinto 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR interest 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2005 ALUMINIUM Rio Tinto Aluminium Weipa mine 100.0% Queensland, Australia Beneficiated bauxite production ('000 tonnes) 3,443 3,674 3,781 4,576 3,843 15,474 Metal grade bauxite shipments ('000 tonnes) 3,466 3,472 3,979 4,034 3,788 14,952 Calcined bauxite production ('000 tonnes) 32 42 34 22 47 130 Comalco Alumina Refinery 100.0% Queensland, Australia Alumina production ('000 tonnes) 196 228 191 220 257 835 Eurallumina refinery 56.2% Sardinia, Italy Alumina production ('000 tonnes) 264 267 267 273 271 1,070 Queensland Alumina refinery 38.6% Queensland, Australia Alumina production ('000 tonnes) 948 1,038 995 972 956 3,953 Anglesey Aluminium smelter 51.0% United Kingdom Primary aluminium production ('000 tonnes) 35.6 35.8 35.8 36.7 36.2 143.9 Bell Bay smelter 100.0% Tasmania, Australia Primary aluminium production ('000 tonnes) 42.8 43.5 43.9 43.6 43.2 173.8 Boyne Island smelter 59.4% Queensland, Australia Primary aluminium production ('000 tonnes) 132.5 136.1 137.9 138.4 134.7 544.9 Tiwai Point smelter 79.4% New Zealand Primary aluminium production ('000 tonnes) 85.4 87.7 90.2 88.1 81.6 351.4 Rio Tinto Aluminium share Share of primary aluminium sales ('000 196.7 215.3 221.6 225.0 200.2 858.6 tonnes) BORATES Rio Tinto Borax 100.0% California, US and Argentina Borates ('000 tonnes) (a) 122 146 141 151 129 560 (a) Production is expressed as B2O3 content. COAL Kennecott Energy and Coal Company Antelope mine 100.0% Wyoming, US Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 6,687 6,788 7,287 6,413 7,501 27,174 Colowyo mine (a) Colorado, US Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 1,315 1,315 1,219 1,477 1,468 5,325 Cordero Rojo mine 100.0% Wyoming, US Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 9,170 8,736 7,687 8,642 8,675 34,234 Decker mine 50.0% Montana, US Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 1,080 1,745 1,683 1,781 1,552 6,288 Jacobs Ranch mine 100.0% Wyoming, US Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 9,032 8,188 8,014 8,590 8,513 33,823 Spring Creek mine 100.0% Montana, US Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 2,497 3,018 3,243 3,122 2,549 11,881 Total coal production ('000 tonnes) 29,780 29,789 29,131 30,025 30,257 118,724 Total coal sales ('000 tonnes) 29,780 29,789 29,131 30,025 30,257 118,724 (a) In view of Kennecott Energy's responsibilities under a management agreement for the operation of the Colowyo mine, all of Colowyo's output is included in Rio Tinto's share of production. Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 March 2006. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated. RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA FULL Rio Tinto 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR interest 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2005 COAL (continued) Rio Tinto Coal Australia (a) Bengalla mine 30.3% New South Wales, Australia Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 1,430 1,274 1,208 2,053 1,088 5,965 Blair Athol Coal mine 71.2% Queensland, Australia Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 2,655 2,512 2,799 2,634 2,429 10,600 Hail Creek Coal mine 82.0% Queensland, Australia Hard coking coal production ('000 tonnes) 1,386 1,492 1,473 1,549 753 5,900 Hunter Valley Operations 75.7% New South Wales, Australia Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 2,765 2,497 2,429 2,651 2,386 10,341 Semi-soft coking coal production ('000 570 530 555 378 419 2,033 tonnes) Kestrel Coal mine 80.0% Queensland, Australia Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 200 283 179 112 156 774 Hard coking coal production ('000 tonnes) 957 912 683 393 635 2,946 Mount Thorley Operations 60.6% New South Wales, Australia Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 718 612 836 529 969 2,695 Semi-soft coking coal production ('000 268 458 261 281 291 1,267 tonnes) Tarong Coal mine 100.0% Queensland, Australia Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 1,784 1,334 1,804 1,549 1,803 6,470 Warkworth mine 42.1% New South Wales, Australia Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 1,380 1,335 1,736 1,495 1,759 5,946 Semi-soft coking coal production ('000 50 145 85 67 11 347 tonnes) Total hard coking coal production ('000 2,343 2,403 2,157 1,943 1,388 8,846 tonnes) Total hard coking coal sales ('000 tonnes) 1,973 2,312 1,557 1,684 1,220 7,526 Total other coal production ('000 tonnes) (b) 11,821 10,979 11,891 11,746 11,309 46,438 Total other coal sales ('000 tonnes) (c) (d) 12,409 10,813 12,424 11,816 11,860 47,463 Total coal production ('000 tonnes) 14,164 13,382 14,048 13,689 12,698 55,283 Total coal sales ('000 tonnes) 14,382 13,126 13,981 13,500 13,080 54,989 Rio Tinto Coal Australia share Share of hard coking coal sales ('000 tonnes) 1,608 1,881 1,268 1,374 994 6,131 Share of other coal sales ('000 tonnes) (c) 8,306 7,241 8,399 7,719 7,986 31,666 (d) (a) Rio Tinto Coal Australia manages all the operations below; the mines in New South Wales were previously reported separately under the Coal & Allied name. (b) Other coal production includes thermal coal and semi-soft coking coal. (c) Other coal sales includes thermal coal, semi-soft coking coal and semi-hard coking coal (a mixture of thermal coal and coking coal). (d) Sales relate only to coal mined by the operations and exclude traded coal. Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 March 2006. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated. RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA FULL Rio Tinto 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR interest 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2005 COPPER & GOLD Escondida 30.0% Chile Sulphide ore treated ('000 tonnes) 19,913 21,725 22,255 22,161 21,843 86,054 Average copper grade (%) 1.41 1.51 1.59 1.58 1.62 1.53 Mill production (metals in concentrates): Contained copper ('000 tonnes) 241.1 277.8 304.4 304.0 302.8 1,127.3 Contained gold ('000 ounces) 55 44 42 43 40 183 Contained silver ('000 ounces) 1,446 1,462 1,682 1,975 1,522 6,565 Oxide ore treated ('000 tonnes) 4,236 4,218 4,214 4,261 3,984 16,930 Average copper grade (%) 0.99 0.85 0.82 0.72 0.80 0.84 Contained copper in leachate/mined material ('000 42 36 35 31 32 143 tonnes) Refined production: Oxide plant production ('000 tonnes) 37.9 37.2 34.1 34.8 26.8 143.9 Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (a) Grasberg mine 0.0% (40.0% of the expansion) Papua, Indonesia Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 17,946 19,271 19,899 21,791 19,512 78,907 Average mill head grades: Copper (%) 1.14 0.98 1.06 1.31 0.72 1.13 Gold (g/t) 1.62 1.43 1.16 2.33 0.92 1.65 Silver (g/t) 5.26 4.54 4.36 5.36 4.21 4.88 Production of metals in concentrates: Copper in concentrates ('000 tonnes) 183.5 164.1 185.5 260.8 115.9 793.9 Gold in concentrates ('000 ounces) 788 750 609 1,400 485 3,546 Silver in concentrates ('000 ounces) 1,805 1,576 1,662 2,489 903 7,531 Sales of payable metals in concentrates: (b) Copper in concentrates ('000 tonnes) 173.0 164.4 179.9 249.0 114.0 766.3 Gold in concentrates ('000 ounces) 743 759 594 1,342 486 3,438 Silver in concentrates ('000 ounces) 1,358 1,257 1,284 1,897 711 5,795 (a) Through a joint venture agreement with Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX), Rio Tinto is entitled to 40% of additional material mined as a consequence of expansions and developments of the Grasberg facilities since 1998. (b) Net of smelter deductions. Kelian Equatorial Mining (a) 90.0% East Kalimantan, Indonesia Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 826 - - - - 826 Average ore grades: Gold (g/t) 1.68 - - - - 1.68 Silver (g/t) 2.29 - - - - 2.29 Production: Gold ('000 ounces) 34 8 - - - 43 Silver ('000 ounces) 27 4 - - - 32 Sales: Gold ('000 ounces) 90 10 - - 42 100 Silver ('000 ounces) - 304 - - - 304 (a) Kelian ceased processing ore on 7 February 2005 and the final gold pour was on 27 May 2005. Mine closure programmes including reclamation, rehabilitation and sustainable monitoring continue. Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 March 2006. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated. RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA FULL Rio Tinto 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR interest 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2005 COPPER & GOLD (continued) Kennecott Minerals Company Cortez/Pipeline mine 40.0% Nevada, US Ore treated Milled ('000 tonnes) 823 868 759 798 756 3,247 Leached ('000 tonnes) 8,021 5,962 5,725 3,352 3,812 23,059 Sold for roasting ('000 tonnes) 42 72 90 73 35 277 Average ore grade: gold Milled (g/t) 4.78 5.62 4.81 4.71 2.33 5.00 Leached (g/t) 0.67 0.60 0.49 0.49 0.39 0.58 Sold for roasting (g/t) 7.26 6.52 6.73 8.89 6.50 7.33 Gold produced ('000 ounces) 220 274 223 186 87 904 Greens Creek mine 70.3% Alaska, US Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 168 178 154 151 158 651 Average ore grades: Gold (g/t) 5.46 5.22 4.71 5.02 4.54 5.12 Silver (g/t) 735 608 527 615 533 623 Zinc (%) 10.8 10.5 9.6 10.4 10.0 10.3 Lead (%) 4.3 4.1 3.6 3.9 4.0 4.0 Metals produced in concentrates: Gold ('000 ounces) 21 20 15 17 16 73 Silver ('000 ounces) 3,016 2,557 1,869 2,222 2,065 9,664 Zinc ('000 tonnes) 14.2 14.7 11.6 12.4 12.2 52.9 Lead ('000 tonnes) 4.8 4.7 3.5 3.8 4.3 16.9 Rawhide mine (a) 51.0% Nevada, US Metals produced in dore: Gold ('000 ounces) 11 9 7 8 7 35 Silver ('000 ounces) 103 88 63 67 63 320 (a) Mining operations were completed in October 2002 and processing of stockpiled ores was completed in May 2003. Residual gold and silver production continues from the leach pads. Kennecott Utah Copper Barneys Canyon mine (a) 100.0% Utah, US Gold produced ('000 ounces) 4 4 4 4 4 16 (a) Mining operations ceased in the first quarter of 2002. Gold continues to be recovered from leach pads. Bingham Canyon mine 100.0% Utah, US Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 11,664 11,757 11,875 11,369 11,702 46,664 Average ore grade: Copper (%) 0.60 0.53 0.47 0.51 0.62 0.53 Gold (g/t) 0.42 0.35 0.34 0.38 0.52 0.37 Silver (g/t) 3.75 3.36 2.81 3.02 3.73 3.23 Molybdenum (%) 0.063 0.057 0.052 0.058 0.060 0.058 Copper concentrates produced ('000 tonnes) 243 231 193 213 242 881 Average concentrate grade (% Cu) 25.5 24.4 26.0 24.1 25.3 25.0 Production of metals in copper concentrates: Copper ('000 tonnes) (b) 62.1 56.7 50.2 51.6 61.6 220.6 Gold ('000 ounces) 115 95 92 99 129 401 Silver ('000 ounces) 1,140 1,050 884 884 1,036 3,958 Molybdenum concentrates produced ('000 tonnes): 7.1 6.3 7.6 8.6 8.2 29.5 Molybdenum in concentrates ('000 tonnes) 3.9 3.3 3.9 4.6 4.4 15.6 Kennecott smelter & refinery 100.0% Copper concentrates smelted ('000 tonnes) 217 224 300 300 270 1,042 Copper anodes produced ('000 tonnes) (c) 50.4 43.1 68.6 67.3 66.4 229.3 Production of refined metal: Copper ('000 tonnes) 57.2 41.5 68.1 65.1 70.9 232.0 Gold ('000 ounces) (d) 90 76 92 110 118 369 Silver ('000 ounces) (d) 755 1,138 830 814 1,398 3,538 (a) Includes a small amount of copper in precipitates. (b) New metal excluding recycled material. (c) Includes gold and silver in intermediate products. Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 March 2006. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated. RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA FULL Rio Tinto 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR interest 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2005 COPPER & GOLD (continued) Lihir Gold (a) 0.0% Papua New Guinea Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 803 1,051 917 - - 2,771 Average ore grade: gold (g/t) 4 4 7 - - 5 Gold produced ('000 ounces) (b) 101 130 193 - - 424 (a) On 30 November 2005, Rio Tinto sold its interest in Lihir Gold; it had agreed in September 2005 to relinquish the management agreement for Lihir. The production data are shown up to 30 September 2005, from which date the Rio Tinto interest in Lihir was held as an investment rather than being equity accounted. (b) Gold production represents quantity of gold poured. Northparkes Joint Venture 80.0% New South Wales, Australia Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 1,300 1,360 1,372 1,421 1,425 5,453 Average ore grades: Copper (%) 1.06 0.97 1.17 1.27 1.45 1.12 Gold (g/t) 0.46 0.43 0.47 0.49 0.56 0.46 Copper concentrates produced ('000 tonnes) 30.2 33.7 39.5 43.9 48.4 147.2 Contained copper in concentrates: Saleable production ('000 tonnes) 10.7 11.9 14.7 16.7 19.4 54.0 Sales ('000 tonnes) (a) 9.4 9.8 11.0 13.1 14.3 43.4 Contained gold in concentrates: Saleable production ('000 ounces) 12.5 13.4 15.0 16.1 19.6 57.0 Sales ('000 ounces) (a) 15.5 9.0 10.6 14.7 13.3 49.9 (a) Rio Tinto's 80% share of material from the Joint Venture. Palabora (a) 46.5% Palabora mine South Africa Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 2,156 2,459 2,572 2,349 2,646 9,536 Average ore grade: copper (%) 0.72 0.71 0.71 0.72 0.71 0.72 Copper concentrates produced ('000 tonnes) 48.0 48.4 52.9 47.8 51.5 197.1 Average concentrate grade: copper (%) 29.3 32.2 31.3 31.2 29.9 31.0 Copper in concentrates ('000 tonnes) 14.1 15.6 16.6 14.9 15.4 61.2 Palabora smelter/refinery New concentrate smelted on site ('000 tonnes) 75.2 71.7 75.2 82.2 42.0 304.4 New copper anodes produced ('000 tonnes) 20.0 19.4 22.7 22.4 10.0 84.5 Refined new copper produced ('000 tonnes) 18.7 19.0 22.1 20.6 14.3 80.3 By-products: Magnetite concentrate ('000 tonnes) 201 189 267 231 251 888 Refined nickel sulphate (tonnes) 34 57 37 57 35 186 Vermiculite plant Vermiculite produced ('000 tonnes) 48 54 53 55 48 210 (a) During the second half of 2005, the conversion of debentures into ordinary shares resulted in a dilution of Rio Tinto's shareholding in Palabora from 49.2% to 47.2%. The conversions continued during the first quarter of 2006 and the Rio Tinto shareholding at the end of the quarter was 46.5%. DIAMONDS Argyle Diamonds 100.0% Western Australia AK1 ore processed ('000 tonnes) 2,342 2,358 2,111 2,158 1,956 8,969 AK1 diamonds produced ('000 carats) 8,633 9,393 5,995 6,455 5,214 30,476 Diavik Diamonds 60.0% Northwest Territories, Canada Ore processed ('000 tonnes) 495 612 619 497 492 2,222 Diamonds recovered ('000 carats) 1,749 2,515 2,177 1,831 1,788 8,272 Murowa Diamonds 77.8% Zimbabwe Ore processed ('000 tonnes) 29 28 49 73 66 178 Diamonds recovered ('000 carats) 66 67 61 57 48 251 Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 March 2006. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated. RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA FULL Rio Tinto 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR interest 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2005 IRON ORE & IRON Hamersley Iron Western Australia Saleable iron ore production ('000 tonnes): Paraburdoo, Mount Tom Price, Marandoo, Yandicoogina and Brockman 100.0% 15,836 19,704 18,915 19,931 17,404 74,387 Channar 60.0% 2,540 2,185 2,284 1,634 2,018 8,644 Eastern Range (a) 1,295 1,831 1,897 1,536 1,756 6,559 Total production ('000 tonnes) 19,671 23,720 23,097 23,101 21,178 89,590 Total sales ('000 tonnes) (b) 20,024 21,885 22,387 25,793 20,982 90,090 (a) Rio Tinto owns 54% of the Eastern Range mine. Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, Hamersley Iron manages the operation and is obliged to purchase all mine production from the joint venture and therefore all of the production is included in Rio Tinto's share of production. (b) Sales represent iron ore exported from Western Australian ports. HIsmelt(R) (a) 60.0% Western Australia Pig iron production ('000 tonnes) - - - 9 4 - (a) HIsmelt(R) commenced production during 2005. Iron Ore Company of Canada Newfoundland & Labrador and Quebec in Canada Carol Lake operations 58.7% Saleable iron ore production: Concentrates ('000 tonnes) 307 745 581 683 341 2,316 Pellets ('000 tonnes) 3,122 3,442 3,322 3,445 2,846 13,331 Sales: Concentrate ('000 tonnes) 204 612 552 755 316 2,123 Pellets ('000 tonnes) 2,344 3,326 2,951 4,230 2,150 12,851 Rio Tinto Brasil Corumba mine 100.0% Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil Saleable iron ore production ('000 tonnes) 377 372 371 290 440 1,410 (a) Sales ('000 tonnes) 392 243 391 276 418 1,303 (a) Production includes by-product fines. Robe River Iron Associates Pannawonica mine 53.0% Western Australia Saleable iron ore production ('000 tonnes) 7,333 7,574 8,076 7,998 6,481 30,981 Sales ('000 tonnes) 7,939 7,118 7,802 8,203 6,756 31,062 West Angelas mine 53.0% Western Australia Saleable iron ore production ('000 tonnes) 5,067 4,670 5,775 5,891 4,813 21,403 Sales ('000 tonnes) 4,932 4,469 5,902 6,187 4,745 21,491 Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 March 2006. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated. RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA FULL Rio Tinto 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR interest 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2005 SALT Dampier Salt 64.9% Western Australia Salt production ('000 tonnes) 2,130 2,144 1,726 2,480 1,862 8,480 TALC The Luzenac Group 100.0% Australia, Europe, and North America Talc production ('000 tonnes) 325 365 328 346 381 1,364 TITANIUM DIOXIDE FEEDSTOCK Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium 100.0% Canada and South Africa (Rio Tinto share) Titanium dioxide feedstock production ('000 tonnes) 321 328 327 335 344 1,312 URANIUM Energy Resources of Australia Ltd Ranger mine 68.4% Northern Territory, Australia Production (tonnes U3O8) 1,499 1,369 1,514 1,521 1,372 5,903 Rossing Uranium Ltd 68.6% Namibia Production (tonnes U3O8) 863 725 1,038 1,086 830 3,711 Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 March 2006. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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