R&D centre mining automation

Rio Tinto PLC
09 July 2007

Australia wins Rio Tinto's mining automation effort



Rio Tinto is to expand its technical innovation activities, committing A$21
million over five years to a new Research & Development (R&D) centre for mining
automation at The University of Sydney. The group is also basing both its newly
appointed Group scientist and Global head of Innovation in Australia. The new
roles will report to Brisbane-based Grant Thorne who is Rio Tinto's Group
executive for Technology and Innovation.



These initiatives complement Hydrogen Energy, a joint endeavour between Rio
Tinto and BP, which is investigating a clean coal/hydrogen power project in
Kwinana, Western Australia.  Rio Tinto's technology groups are located in
Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Bristol (UK) and Salt Lake City (US) to support Rio
Tinto's global mining and processing activities.



In announcing the increased funding for technical innovation, Rio Tinto's chief
executive, Tom Albanese, said that Rio Tinto was increasing its innovation
effort to position the Group to develop ore bodies around the world.



'Australia is a natural base from which to support our operations with the
innovative technical solutions they will need in the future. A common feature of
Rio Tinto's technical and innovation activities is their strong linkages with
Australian academic and research institutions. This focus is a vote of
confidence in Australia's innovation capability,' Albanese said.



The new R&D centre will be led by professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte and be based at
The University of Sydney's Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR).



Grant Thorne said, 'The Centre for Mine Automation aims to provide a substantial
improvement in safety, predictability, precision and efficiency of mining
through the development of automation and remotely operated mining processes.'



The centre will support up to 30 full time staff and ten research students with
funding of A$5 million a year when fully staffed. The initial agreement for five
years has the potential for extension by agreement between The University of
Sydney and Rio Tinto following mutually satisfactory technology and innovation
outcomes. A technical management group with representatives from Rio Tinto and
the ACFR will monitor the Centre's performance and guide its direction.



Thorne said that these latest initiatives reflected Rio Tinto's long term
commitment to the pursuit of world class technology in Australia. 'Our Iron Ore
group, headquartered in Perth, will be the first trial for automation of a range
of equipment and the remote operation control of mines, processing plants and
trains.



'Rio Tinto has always emphasized technical development. Now we are intensifying
our commitment to ensure we are equipped to deal effectively with the challenges
likely to face us in the next generation of mines. Australia will play a central
role,' he said.



The Australian Centre for Field Robotics at The University of Sydney is one of
the largest and most successful robotics research groups in the world. It is the
lead partner in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for
Autonomous Systems, hosts the Defence Science and Technology Organisation Centre
of Expertise for Uninhabited and Autonomous Systems, and is a partner in the
Cooperative Research Centre for Mining. Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte is an
Australian Research Council Federation Fellow. http://www.acfr.usyd.edu.au/





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