Investment in Boyne Smelters

Rio Tinto PLC
08 February 2008



Rio Tinto to invest in future of Boyne Smelters

8 February 2008

Rio Tinto (59.4%) and its Joint Venture partners (40.6%) will spend
approximately US$617 million on two projects which will modernise and extend the
life of the Boyne Island aluminium smelters.

The first project, construction of a new baking furnace, will reduce onsite
greenhouse gas emissions, while the second project, which includes overhead
crane replacement and a crane runway upgrade, will result in a more efficient
crane/alumina transport system. The projects will be built approximately over
three years.

'Boyne Smelters is a key asset for Rio Tinto Alcan. This upgrade will underpin
the successful operation of the smelter and help to ensure the continuing
reliable supply of high quality aluminium to our global customers,' Xiaoling
Liu, President, Primary Metal, Pacific, Rio Tinto Alcan said.

'At the same time, this installation of more efficient, state of the art
technology will help to reduce our greenhouse emissions from the carbon bake by
approximately 20,000 tonnes CO2-e annually.'

'This is a very exciting modernisation project that will extend the life of our
asset and improve efficiencies and we are very pleased with the investment and
support we have received from our Joint Venture partners,' Ms Liu said.

'With the construction of Carbon Baking Furnace 4 (CBF 4), two existing carbon
bake furnaces will be replaced with a new furnace of open bake technology,' Ms
Liu added.

With this crane upgrade, runways will be replaced, modernised cell tending
assemblies installed and a new alumina distribution system installed to supply
each cell independently of crane operations.  The crane optimisation project is
designed to improve the safety of our work environment.

Boyne Smelters was opened in 1982 and in 2007 achieved a record annual
production, making it one of the largest smelters in Australia.


About Rio Tinto


Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK,
combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement includes 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than
statements of historical facts included in this announcement, including, without
limitation, those regarding Rio Tinto's financial position, business strategy,
plans and objectives of management for future operations (including development
plans and objectives relating to Rio Tinto's products, production forecasts and
reserve and resource positions), are forward-looking statements. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of
Rio Tinto, or industry results, to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements.

Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Rio
Tinto's present and future business strategies and the environment in which Rio
Tinto will operate in the future. Among the important factors that could cause
Rio Tinto's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially
from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, levels of
demand and market prices, the ability to produce and transport products
profitably, the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on market prices and
operating costs, operational problems, political uncertainty and economic
conditions in relevant areas of the world, the actions of competitors,
activities by governmental authorities such as changes in taxation or regulation
and such other risk factors identified in Rio Tinto's most recent Annual Report
on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(the 'SEC') or Form 6-Ks furnished to the SEC. Forward-looking statements
should, therefore, be construed in light of such risk factors and undue reliance
should not be placed on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Rio Tinto expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking (except as required by applicable law,
the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the 'Takeover Code'), the UK Listing
Rules, the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority
and the Listing Rules of the Australian Securities Exchange) to release publicly
any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to
reflect any change in Rio Tinto's expectations with regard thereto or any change
in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Nothing in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that future earnings
per share of Rio Tinto plc or Rio Tinto Limited will necessarily match or exceed
its historical published earnings per share.

Subject to the requirements of the Takeover Code, none of Rio Tinto, any of its
officers or any person named in this announcement with their consent or any
person involved in the preparation of this announcement makes any representation
or warranty (either express or implied) or gives any assurance that the implied
values, anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in
forward-looking statements contained in this announcement will be achieved.


For further information, please contact:

Media Relations, London                             Media Relations, Australia
Christina Mills                                     Ian Head
Office: [phone]                        Office: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                        Mobile: [phone]


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

Media Relations, US
Nancy Ives
Mobile: [phone]

Investor Relations, London                          Investor Relations, Australia
Nigel Jones                                         Dave Skinner
Office: [phone]                        Office: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                        Mobile: [phone]


David Ovington                                      Simon Ellinor
Office: [phone]                        Office:+ 61 (0) 7 3867 1068
Mobile: [phone]

Investor Relations, North America
Jason Combes
Office: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]


Email: [e-mail]


Website: www.riotinto.com
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