Rio Tinto Alcan AP-Xe

Rio Tinto PLC
10 March 2008




Rio Tinto Alcan AP-Xe aluminium smelting technology to offer up to 20 per cent
reduction in energy consumption


10 March 2008


Rio Tinto Alcan announced today at the TMS 2008 Conference in New Orleans, USA
that it has begun development on the next generation of its AP Technology
series. To be called AP-Xe, this new technology could potentially lead to a step
change in energy consumption of up to 20 per cent along with a reduced
environmental impact and improved full economic cost.

'In a world increasingly concerned with climate change and the environmental
impact of industrial growth, this new technology promises a potential
breakthrough. The development of a greener, more energy efficient production
process, combined with aluminium's well-established attributes such as light
weight and recyclability, makes for a winning combination,' stated Jacynthe
Cote, president, Primary Metal, Rio Tinto Alcan. 'The AP-Xe will provide us with
the technology we need for future generations of greenfield and brownfield
expansions,' she added.

AP-Xe will be developed in phases, including a potentially workable 'drained
cathode' that, taken together with other portfolio technologies under
development, could result in a lowering of unit energy consumption by up to 20
per cent. This technology is designed to be retrofitted to previous AP series
cells. While the maximum energy consumption savings are expected from greenfield
applications, significant savings could also be achieved in retrofitted cells.

Drained cathode cells are already under test on an industrial scale and the
immediate next phase will be the progressive start-up of a 10-cell AP30 test
section at Rio Tinto Alcan's site in St-Jean-de-Maurienne, France. If
successful, an industrial scale-up of this aluminium technology could begin
within five years.

'While we continue to develop and improve our highly successful and
environmentally responsible AP30 aluminium technology platform, and move forward
with the recently announced pilot for AP50 in Quebec, Canada, we are devoting a
large portion of our R&D to the development of future generations of our AP
Technology,' continued Cote.

This new initiative will be supported by Rio Tinto Alcan's global technology and
R&D network. 'The goal of this AP-Xe aluminium technology is to significantly
reduce and eventually eliminate emissions while achieving a step change in
energy consumption,' stated Don Macmillan, vice president, Technology and
Operational Excellence, Rio Tinto Alcan Primary Metal. 'With the first metal
from the AP50 pilot plant project expected in Quebec in 2010, we are also
looking beyond this to the first AP-Xe proof-of-concept cells to be built at our
centre in St-Jean-de-Maurienne, where initial work is already underway', added
Mr. Macmillan.

This AP-Xe development clearly manifests Rio Tinto Alcan's intention to maintain
its leadership in aluminium technology. With approximately seven and a half
thousand AP Technology cells in operation around the world today, representing
some six million tons of installed capacity, AP Technology is a global leader.
Facilities reaching close to a million more tons are under construction with, in
addition, several million tons in various stages of evaluation, either internal
to Rio Tinto Alcan or with potential partners or licensees.


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 and production forecasts),
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
actual production during any period, 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]

Rio Tinto Alcan Media Relations, Canada Rio Tinto Alcan Media Relations, Paris
                                        Chrystele Ivins
Stefano Bertolli                        Tel.: [phone]
Tel.: [phone]                   [e-mail]
[e-mail]
                                        

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]

Websites: www.riotinto.com   www.riotinto.com/riotintoalcan




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