Sale of Eurallumina interest

Rio Tinto PLC
17 August 2006


Sale of Eurallumina interest


Rio Tinto Aluminium announced today that it had sold its 56.2 per cent share in
the Eurallumina SpA refinery in Sardinia, Italy, to RUSAL.

The sale is conditional on customary joint venture partner rights.

The sale price is confidential under the terms of the sales agreement, but it is
not material as a percentage of the Rio Tinto Group's net assets.


For further information, please contact:

LONDON                                            AUSTRALIA

Media Relations                                   Media Relations
Nick Cobban                                       Ian Head
Office:  [phone]                     Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                      Mobile: [phone]

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

David Ovington                                    Susie Creswell
Office:  [phone]                     Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                      Mobile: [phone]


Website: www.riotinto.com

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



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