Transaction in Own Shares

Rio Tinto PLC
21 July 2006







Rio Tinto plc today acquired through JPMorgan Cazenove Limited 260,000 of its
ordinary shares at an average price of 2663.6443 pence per ordinary share. The
purchased shares will all be held as treasury shares.



Following the above purchase, Rio Tinto plc holds 26,988,797 ordinary shares as
treasury shares. The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding shares
held as treasury shares) is 1,045,280,195.



For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations

Nigel Jones

Office: [phone]

Mobile: [phone]

Secretarial Department

Matthew Whyte

Office: [phone]

Website: www.riotinto.com




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange