CNA - Mexico coal contract

Rio Tinto PLC
02 February 2006


Rio Tinto's 75.7 per cent owned subsidiary, Coal & Allied Industries Limited,
issued the following news release in Australia. All dollars are Australian
currency.


Coal & Allied wins Mexico coal contract


Coal & Allied has won a tender to supply 4.29 million tonnes of thermal coal to
the Mexican Federal Electricity Commission over the next 18 months.


The contract, for the supply of coal to the Petacalco power plant in the Pacific
coast state of Guerrero, is expected to be signed tomorrow (Friday 3 February
2006).


Coal & Allied's managing director, Dr Grant Thorne, said, 'This deal represents
diversification for Coal & Allied into Mexico - a healthy and robust new market
for us. We are very pleased to have secured the tender in competition from a
strong field of international suppliers.'


'Australian coal producers enjoy a freight advantage over China and Indonesia,
our main competitors.'


Earlier this week, Coal & Allied announced a record net profit after tax for
2005 of A$290.1 million (compared with A$116.6 million in 2004).  Coal &
Allied's total shipments in 2005 were 29 million tones of thermal and coking
coal, with the majority going to Japan.


For further information, please contact:

LONDON                                               AUSTRALIA

Media Relations                                      Media Relations

Maria Darby Walker                                   Ian Head

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


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