Landmark alumina deal

Rio Tinto PLC
31 October 2007


Rio Tinto Alcan expands landmark alumina deal


Rio Tinto Alcan today announced it has reached an agreement with Norsk Hydro ASA
to expand its alumina supply to Hydro Aluminium from 500,000 tonnes of alumina
per year to 900,000 tonnes from 2011 to the end of the contract.


Steve Hodgson, president and chief executive officer, Bauxite and Alumina, Rio
Tinto Alcan, said, 'The expansion of our supply contract with Norsk Hydro
underpins our decision to invest in an expansion of the Yarwun alumina refinery.
It is consistent with our strategy to maximise the value of Rio Tinto Alcan's
world class bauxite deposits at Weipa in north Queensland, Australia.'


Under a 20-year contract signed in 2003 with Norsk Hydro, Rio Tinto Alcan is
committed to supplying Hydro Aluminium with 500,000 tonnes of alumina per year
from 2006 until 2030.  This contract also gave Norsk Hydro an option to increase
its purchases of alumina.


About Rio Tinto


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


For further information, please contact:

Media Relations, Australia                           Media Relations, London

Amanda Buckley, Rio Tinto                            Christina Mills

Office:  [phone]                         Office: [phone]

Mobile: [phone]                          Mobile: [phone]


                                                     Media Relations, Montreal

Diane Collier, Rio Tinto Alcan                       Bryan Tucker

Office: [phone]                          Tel.: [phone]

Mobile: [phone]                          [e-mail]


Investor Relations, Australia                        Investor Relations, London

Dave Skinner                                         Nigel Jones

Office:  [phone]                         Office:   [phone]

Mobile: [phone]                          Mobile: [phone]


Investor Relations, North America                    David Ovington

Jason Combes                                         Office:  [phone]

Office:  [phone]                         Mobile: [phone]

Mobile: [phone]


Website:  www.riotinto.com


High resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange