Coal & Allied

Rio Tinto PLC
14 February 2002



               Coal & Allied to sell Moura Joint Venture interest



Rio Tinto's 73 per cent owned Coal & Allied Industries Limited has reached
agreement to sell its 55% interest in the Moura Joint Venture in Central
Queensland to MIM Holdings Limited for US$166 million.



The sale is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2002 and is
conditional on MIM Holdings Limited's underwriting program not being terminated
as a result of unforeseen events within the next 24 hours. Other conditions
include Mitsui Coal Holdings waiving its pre-emptive rights and the receipt of
regulatory approvals.



Coal & Allied purchased its interest in the Moura Joint Venture in January 2001
as part of its acquisition of Peabody's Australian coal operations.





For further information, please contact:


LONDON                                                  AUSTRALIA
Media Relations                                         Media Relations
Lisa Cullimore                                          Ian Head
+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2305                                   [phone]
Investor Relations                                      Investor Relations
Peter Cunningham                                        Dave Skinner
+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2401                                   [phone]
                                                        Daphne Morros
                                                         [phone]



Website: www.riotinto.com





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