Timing Coega smelter project

Rio Tinto PLC
13 March 2008


Rio Tinto Alcan and South African Government in discussions on timing of Coega
smelter project


13 March 2008

Rio Tinto Alcan today announced that it is in discussions with the South African
government regarding the timing of the Coega smelter project near Port
Elizabeth, South Africa. A team, consisting of members from government, Rio
Tinto and Eskom, are reviewing the terms of the project in order to align its
timing with the availability of secure power generation capacity from Eskom.

'We are committed to working closely with the South African government to assist
in mitigating the current energy crisis, while maintaining the option for future
long term development of the Port Elizabeth region,' said Dick Evans, chief
executive, Rio Tinto Alcan and member of the Rio Tinto Board. 'Rio Tinto has
operated successfully in South Africa for several decades, and we look forward
to continuing our mutually beneficial presence in the future,' he added.

Rio Tinto Alcan will work with the government to minimise the impact of a
potential rescheduling on regional economic development. 'We will continue
working on our local community and social investment plans and remain committed
to finding solutions that will lead to the development of this project,' said
Sandeep Biswas, senior vice president, business development, Rio Tinto Alcan. '
The objective is to preserve the feasibility of the project and its underlying
benefits for both Rio Tinto and South Africa, having the long term picture in
mind,' he added.

The project is moving into an interim phase pending the outcome of ongoing
discussions regarding the timing of the project. As the detailed feasibility
study is concluded, the project team will be adjusted for this interim phase as
appropriate.

A long-term energy agreement for the proposed smelter was signed with Eskom in
November 2006, and an agreement for infrastructure and job training support was
concluded with Coega Development Corporation in July 2007. The Industrial
Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) is a 15 per cent partner in the
project. An additional ownership allocation, of no less than 5 per cent, has
been reserved for Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment partners.

Rio Tinto has operated in South Africa for several decades, currently employing
over 4130 people, in Palabora Mining Company; Richards Bay Minerals (50/50 joint
venture with BHP Billiton), as well as staff in Limpopo and Johannesburg
offices.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK,
combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto
Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major
products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold,
industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore.
Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North
America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern
Africa.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement includes 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than
statements of historical facts included in this announcement, including, without
limitation, those regarding Rio Tinto's financial position, business strategy,
plans and objectives of management for future operations (including development
plans and objectives relating to Rio Tinto's products and production forecasts),
are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of Rio Tinto, or industry results, to be
materially different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Rio
Tinto's present and future business strategies and the environment in which Rio
Tinto will operate in the future. Among the important factors that could cause
Rio Tinto's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially
from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, levels of
actual production during any period, levels of demand and market prices, the
ability to produce and transport products profitably, the impact of foreign
currency exchange rates on market prices and operating costs, operational
problems, political uncertainty and economic conditions in relevant areas of the
world, the actions of competitors, activities by governmental authorities such
as changes in taxation or regulation and such other risk factors identified in
Rio Tinto's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') or Form 6-Ks furnished to the
SEC. Forward-looking statements should, therefore, be construed in light of such
risk factors and undue reliance

should not be placed on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Rio Tinto expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking (except as required by applicable law,
the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the 'Takeover Code'), the UK Listing
Rules, the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority
and the Listing Rules of the Australian Securities Exchange) to release publicly
any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to
reflect any change in Rio Tinto's expectations with regard thereto or any change
in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Nothing in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that future earnings
per share of Rio Tinto plc or Rio Tinto Limited will necessarily match or exceed
its historical published earnings per share.

Subject to the requirements of the Takeover Code, none of Rio Tinto, any of its
officers or any person named in this announcement with their consent or any
person involved in the preparation of this announcement makes any representation
or warranty (either express or implied) or gives any assurance that the implied
values, anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in
forward-looking statements contained in this announcement will be achieved.


For further information, please contact:

Media Relations, London                 Media Relations, Australia
Christina Mills                         Ian Head
Office: [phone]            Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]            Mobile: [phone]


Nick Cobban                             Amanda Buckley
Office:  [phone]           Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]            Mobile: [phone]

Rio Tinto Alcan Media Relations, Canada Rio Tinto Alcan Media Relations,
Stefano Bertolli                        South Africa
Tel.: [phone]                   Robert Valdmanis
[e-mail]              Tel.: [phone]
                                        [e-mail]

Media Relations, US                 
Nancy Ives
Mobile: [phone]

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

David Ovington                          Simon Ellinor
Office:  [phone]           Office:+ 61 (0) 7 3867 1068
Mobile: [phone]

Investor Relations, North America
Jason Combes
Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]


Email: [e-mail]

Websites: www.riotinto.com   www.riotinto.com/riotintoalcan


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