Rio Tinto sells Sepon project

Rio Tinto PLC
20 January 2004



Rio Tinto sells Sepon interest to Oxiana



Rio Tinto has reached agreement to sell its 20 per cent interest in the Sepon
project (comprising the current gold project and the proposed Khanong copper
project) in Laos to Oxiana Limited for cash consideration of US$85 million.
Transaction completion is expected no later than 10 March 2004, and will be
effective 1 January 2004.



If requested by Oxiana, Rio Tinto has agreed to provide technical consulting
services for the Sepon project on commercial arms-length terms until the end of
2006.





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