Statement re Comalco

Rio Tinto PLC
6 June 2002


               Comalco increases stake in Boyne Smelters Limited


Comalco, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto, has signed an agreement with
Kobe Steel, Ltd. to purchase Kobe's interest in the Boyne Smelters Limited
aluminium smelter at Gladstone, Australia.

Kobe has a 9.5 per cent interest in reduction lines 1 and 2 at the Boyne Island
smelter (and nil interest in reduction line 3).


The value of the transaction is approximately US$78.5 million.  The transaction
will increase Comalco's total shareholding in the Boyne Island smelter from
54.19 per cent to 59.39 per cent.


The transaction is subject to certain approvals, including the Foreign
Investment Review Board, and the consent of the other Boyne Smelters
Participants.



For further information, please contact:


LONDON                                                  AUSTRALIA

Media Relations                                         Media Relations

John Hughes                                             Ian Head

+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2331                                   [phone]

Investor Relations                                      Investor Relations

Peter Cunningham                                        Dave Skinner

+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2401                                   [phone]

Richard Brimelow                                        Daphne Morros

+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2326                                    [phone]


Website: www.riotinto.com



Note to Editors


Following completion of the transaction, expected in the third quarter of 2002,
the new ownership structure of Boyne Smelters Limited and interest in reduction
lines 1 and 2, and reduction line 3 will become:


                               Shareholding in Boyne        Interest in reduction lines  Interest in reduction line 3
                               Smelters Limited                       1 and 2
                                                                                                      %
                                            %                            %

Comalco                                   59.39                         59.5                        59.25

SLM Australia                              9.29                         17.0                          -

SLMA No. 2                                 7.71                          -                           17.0

Ryowa Development                          5.19                         9.5                           -

Ryowa Development II                       6.46                          -                          14.25

YKK Aluminium                              9.5                          9.5                          9.5

Sumitomo Chemical                          2.46                         4.5                           -


SLM Australia and SLMA No. 2 are owned by Sumitomo Light Metal Industries,
Marubeni and Sumitomo Corporation.


Ryowa Development is owned by Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Australia.


Ryowa Development II is owned by Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Materials
Corporation.



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