Canadian Comp. Act Clearance

Rio Tinto PLC
30 August 2007

Rio Tinto offer for Alcan: Canadian Competition Act clearance obtained


Rio Tinto announces that Canadian Competition Act clearance for the proposed
acquisition of Alcan by a subsidiary of Rio Tinto has been obtained.

Receipt of this, and other regulatory clearances, is a condition to Rio Tinto's
offer to acquire the outstanding shares in Alcan.



About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK,
combining Rio Tinto plc, a London listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which
is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major
products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold,
industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore.
Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North
America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern
Africa.


For further information, please contact:

LONDON                                               AUSTRALIA

Media Relations                                      Media Relations

Christina Mills                                      Ian Head

Office: [phone]                         Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]
                                                     Mobile: [phone]


Nick Cobban
                                                     Amanda Buckley
Office:  [phone]
                                                     Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]
                                                     Mobile: [phone]
Investor Relations                                   Investor Relations

Nigel Jones                                          Dave Skinner

Office: [phone]                         Office:  [phone]

Mobile: [phone]                         Mobile: [phone]



David Ovington                                       Susie Creswell

Office:  [phone]                        Office:  [phone]

Mobile: [phone]                         Mobile: [phone]



Website: www.riotinto.com

High resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk





Additional information


The offer to purchase all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Alcan
for US$101 per common share in a recommended, all cash transaction (the 'Offer')
is being made by Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc. (the 'Offeror'), an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of
Rio Tinto. The Offer represents a total consideration for Alcan common shares of
approximately US$38.1 billion.

The Offer is open for acceptance until 6.00 p.m., Canadian Eastern Time, on
September 24, 2007, unless extended. The Offer is subject to a number of
conditions including valid acceptances by holders of not less than 66-2/3 per
cent of Alcan shares on a fully diluted basis and the receipt of various
governmental and regulatory approvals, certain of which the Offeror does not
expect to receive prior to 24 September 2007. Accordingly, the Offeror currently
intends to extend the Offer beyond 24 September 2007. The board of Rio Tinto has
approved the transaction.  The Offer is expected to close in the fourth quarter
of 2007.

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute or
form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe
for, sell, otherwise dispose of or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to
sell, otherwise dispose of, issue, purchase, otherwise acquire or subscribe for,
any security. The Offer (as the same may be varied or extended in accordance
with applicable law) is being made exclusively by means of, and subject to the
terms and conditions set out in, the offer and takeover bid circular delivered
to Alcan and filed with Canadian provincial securities regulators and the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') and mailed to Alcan
shareholders.

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain
jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such
jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed
should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.

In connection with the Offer, an offer and takeover bid circular as well as
ancillary documents such as a letter of transmittal and a notice of guaranteed
delivery have been filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and
the SEC and an Alcan directors' circular with respect to the Offer has also been
filed. A Tender Offer statement on Schedule TO (the 'Schedule TO') and a
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the 'Schedule 14D-9')
has also been filed with the SEC.



SHAREHOLDERS OF ALCAN ARE URGED TO READ THE OFFER AND TAKEOVER BID CIRCULAR
(INCLUDING THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY), THE
SCHEDULE TO (INCLUDING THE OFFER AND TAKEOVER BID CIRCULAR, LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL AND RELATED TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SCHEDULE 14D-9 AS THEY
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE OFFER.

The offer and takeover bid circular as well as other materials filed with the
Canadian securities regulatory authorities are available electronically without
charge at www.sedar.com. The Schedule TO and the Schedule 14D-9 are available
electronically without charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Materials filed
with the SEC or the Canadian securities regulatory authorities may also be
obtained without charge at Rio Tinto's website, www.riotinto.com.

While the Offer is being made to all holders of Alcan common shares, this
announcement does not constitute an offer or a solicitation in any jurisdiction
in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. The Offer is not being made in,
nor will deposits be accepted in, any jurisdiction in which the making or
acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such
jurisdiction. However, the Offeror may, in its sole discretion, take such action
as it may deem necessary to extend the Offer in any such jurisdiction.

The Offer is made to holders in France of Alcan common shares admitted to
trading on Euronext-Paris. An announcement including the main information
relating to the Offer documents has been prepared and released pursuant to
article 231-24 of the AMF General Regulation and contains information relating
to how and in which time limit Alcan shareholders residing in France can accept
this Offer. The offer document and the announcement prepared pursuant to article
231-24 of the AMF General Regulation are available free of charge to the holders
of Alcan Shares registered with Euroclear France who request it from Citi
France, Global Transaction Services, Operations departement, 19 le Parvis la
Defense 7, 92073 Paris La Defense. They are also available on the internet at
the following address: www.computershare.com/Rio-AlcanFrenchofferdocument.

The Offer is made to holders in Belgium of Alcan common shares and/or
certificates admitted to trading on Euronext Brussels (the 'IDRs'). A Belgian
supplement, addressing issues specific to holders of Alcan common shares and/or
IDRs in Belgium (the 'Belgian Supplement') was approved by the Belgian Banking,
Finance and Insurance Commission on 2 August 2007. The offer document and the
Belgian Supplement are available free of charge to the investors in Belgium who
request it from the Belgian branch of Citibank International plc, Department GTS
Operations, 4th floor, boulevard General Jacques 263G, 1050 Brussels. They are
also available on the internet at the following address: www.computershare.com/
Rio-AlcanBelgianofferdocument.




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