Statement re Comalco

Rio Tinto PLC
01 August 2002





        Comalco completes acquisition of stake in Boyne Smelters Limited




Comalco, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto, has completed the acquisition
from Kobe Steel Ltd of a 9.5 per cent stake in reduction lines 1 and 2 at the
Boyne Smelters Limited aluminium smelter at Gladstone, Queensland. The
transaction was announced on 6 June 2002. The acquisition increases Comalco's
total interest in Boyne Smelters Limited from 54.19 per cent to 59.39 per cent.







For further information, please contact:


LONDON                                                  AUSTRALIA
Media Relations                                         Media Relations
Hugh Leggatt                                            Ian Head
+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2337                                   [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






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