Comalco Alumina Refinery

Rio Tinto PLC
26 October 2001

             Construction of Comalco Alumina Refinery to Commence

Rio Tinto has approved the commencement of construction of stage one of the
Comalco Alumina Refinery in Gladstone, Queensland.

Mr Leigh Clifford, Rio Tinto Chief Executive, said, 'The Comalco Alumina
Refinery is a major development for both Queensland and Australia, which will
add further value to Australia's bauxite resources.

'The Queensland Government and the Commonwealth Government, through Invest
Australia, have provided strong support to help this project come to fruition
in Australia.

'Concurrent with this decision, Rio Tinto and the Commonwealth Government will
form a research and technical development partnership to jointly fund
sustainable minerals industry programs, including projects related to energy
efficiency and greenhouse gas sequestration. These programs are aimed at
enhancing the environmental advantages of Australian resource development,' Mr
Clifford said.

The first stage of the Comalco Alumina Refinery, which is expected to cost
US$750 million, will produce about 1.4 million tonnes of alumina per year,
using bauxite from Comalco's Weipa mine in north Queensland. There is
potential for the refinery capacity to increase to over four million tonnes
per year when market conditions allow.

Mr Sam Walsh, Comalco's Chief Executive, said, 'The Comalco Alumina Refinery
continues Rio Tinto's substantial investment in aluminium production in
Australia. This includes Comalco's purchase of the Gladstone Power Station in
1994, the addition of a new potline to the Boyne Island smelter in 1997 and
Comalco's increased holding in Queensland Alumina Limited from 30.3 per cent
to 38.6 per cent earlier this year.

'Both the Federal and Queensland Governments and the people of the Gladstone
region have been very supportive of the project and we are pleased to
strengthen our commitment to Gladstone and Queensland.'

Up to 1,500 people will be employed directly on-site during the construction
phase of the refinery. Over 400 jobs, directly associated with the refinery,
are expected to be created in the Gladstone area. Initial shipments from the
refinery are expected in the first quarter of 2005.

Site preparation work will begin in December and large-scale construction will
commence in 2002.

For further information, please contact:


LONDON                               AUSTRALIA
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John Hughes                          Tim Duncan

+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2331                [phone]

Investor Relations                   Investor Relations

Peter Cunningham                     Dave Skinner

+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2401                [phone]

Jonathan Murrin                      Daphne Morros

+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2326                [phone]

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