Sale of Fortaleza nickel mine

Rio Tinto PLC
16 January 2004




                  Sale of Fortaleza nickel mine completed



Rio Tinto has completed the sale of the nickel mining company Mineracao Serra da
Fortaleza Ltda (MSF) to Votorantim Metais. The transaction was announced on
23 December 2003.





For further information, please contact:

LONDON                                               AUSTRALIA

Media Relations                                      Media Relations
Lisa Cullimore                                       Ian Head
Office:  [phone]                        Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                         Mobile: [phone]

Investor Relations                                   Investor Relations
Peter Cunningham                                     Dave Skinner
Office:  [phone]                        Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                         Mobile: [phone]
Richard Brimelow                                     Daphne Morros
Office:  [phone]                        Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                         Mobile: [phone]

Website: www.riotinto.com




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