Coal&Allied Production Rpt

Rio Tinto PLC
18 July 2001

                       Coal & Allied Production Report                        
                                                                              
                      For The Quarter Ended 30 June 2001                      

                                      
                                                                              
                         2Q      3Q      4Q      1Q      2Q       1H       1H 
                                                                            
                       2000    2000    2000    2001    2001     2000     2001 
  (100% basis)                                                                
  Hunter Valley                                                               
  Operations (a)                                                              
  Thermal coal        1,554   1,437   1,545   1,500   1,418    2,780    2,918 
  production ('000                                                            
  tonnes)                                                                     
  Coking coal           898     598     556   1,248     970    1,669    2,218 
  production ('000                                                            
  tonnes)                                                                     
  Mount Thorley                                                               
  Operations                                                                  
  Thermal coal          423     650     656     497     588      858    1,085 
  production ('000                                                            
  tonnes)                                                                     
  Coking coal           482     540     588     397     540    1,097      937 
  production ('000                                                            
  tonnes)                                                                     
  Bengalla Mine (b)                                                           
  Thermal coal            -       -       -     944   1,423        -    2,367 
  production ('000                                                            
  tonnes)                                                                     
  Moura Mine (b)                                                              
  Thermal coal            -       -       -     370     825        -    1,195 
  production ('000                                                            
  tonnes)                                                                     
  Coking coal             -       -       -     666     725        -    1,391 
  production ('000                                                            
  tonnes)                                                                     
  Narama Mine (b)                                                             
  Thermal coal            -       -       -     399     769        -    1,168 
  production ('000                                                            
  tonnes)                                                                     
  Ravensworth East                                                            
  Mine (b)                                                                    
  Thermal coal            -       -       -     177     491        -      668 
  production ('000                                                            
  tonnes)                                                                     
  Warkworth Mine                                                              
  (b & c)                                                                     
  Thermal coal            -       -       -     979   1,571        -    2,550 
  production ('000                                                            
  tonnes)                                                                     
  Coking coal             -       -       -     172     187        -      359 
  production ('000                                                            
  tonnes)                                                                     
  Total coal          3,357   3,225   3,345   7,349   9,507    6,404   16,856 
  production ('000                                                            
  tonnes)                                                                     
  Total sales         3,616   3,654   2,989   7,694   9,507    6,509   17,201 
  ('000 tonnes)                                                               
  (d)                                                                         
 
 
Coal production for Hunter Valley Operations decreased in the second quarter
of 2001 compared with the first quarter of 2001 due to low in-pit inventory
levels which adversely affected coal deliveries to the Lemington and Hunter
Valley coal preparation plants.
 
A Narama mine contract has a June year-end, which traditionally leads to
increased production in the second quarter of the year to ensure the contract
tonnage is met. In addition a spot tonnage contract had to be delivered by
June 2001.
 
Ravensworth East coal production improved during the second quarter of 2001
compared with the first quarter of 2001, which had been constrained by heavy
rainfall.
 
All mining operations in the Hunter Valley were significantly affected by wet
weather during the first quarter of 2001.
 
 
 
Notes 
 
 
A)   Hunter Valley Operations consist of the merged Howick and Hunter Valley
     mines, as well as the Lemington mine acquired with effect from 20        
     December 2000. 
B)   Coal & Allied purchased the Australian subsidiaries of the Peabody Group
     effective 29 January 2001. The ownership interests in the mines are:     
     Bengalla Mine 40%; Moura Mine 55%; Narama Mine 50%; Ravensworth East Mine
     100%; and Warkworth Mine 43.75%. The production figures reported here for
     these ex-Peabody mines are from 29 January 2001. 
C)   In a separate transaction also effective 29 January 2001, Coal & Allied
     increased its ownership of the Warkworth mine by 11.82%, bringing Coal &
     Allied's ownership interest to 55.57%. 
D)   Sales relate only to coal mined by the Coal & Allied mines and exclude
     traded coal.

 
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