Capital management programme

Rio Tinto PLC
27 October 2006


Rio Tinto increases capital management programme to US$7 billion


Rio Tinto has announced today that it will increase its capital management
programme to US$7 billion. This is US$3 billion more than the previously
announced capital management programme for 2006 and 2007 of US$4 billion. The
additional cash return will be made through the buyback of shares between now
and the end of 2007.


Rio Tinto's finance director Guy Elliott said, 'In today's favourable markets,
the Group's high quality assets are generating record cash flows. This allows us
to make substantial investments in the growth of the business and to return cash
to shareholders. Our balance sheet remains strong, and we are pleased to make
this increase in our capital management programme. Of course the programme
remains subject to market conditions.'


Under the current US$4 billion capital management programme, US$1.5 billion was
returned to shareholders on 6 April 2006 in the form of a special dividend. Of
the remaining US$2.5 billion of that programme, US$1.9 billion has been returned
to shareholders through the buyback of Rio Tinto plc shares in the London
market, leaving an outstanding balance of US$600 million to be completed.


For further information, please contact:

LONDON                                               AUSTRALIA

Media Relations                                      Media Relations

Nick Cobban                                          Ian Head

Office:  [phone]                        Office:  [phone]

Mobile: [phone]                         Mobile: [phone]

Investor Relations                                   Investor Relations

Nigel Jones                                          Dave Skinner

Office: [phone]                         Office:  [phone]

Mobile: [phone]                         Mobile: [phone]


David Ovington                                       Susie Creswell

Office:  [phone]                        Office:  [phone]

Mobile: [phone]                         Mobile: [phone]


Website: www.riotinto.com

High resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk


                      This information is provided by RNS
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