Coal resource in South Africa

Rio Tinto PLC
05 February 2008



Rio Tinto announces a coal resource of over 1 billion tonnes at Chapudi


5 February 2008


Rio Tinto has further strengthened its presence in South Africa with the
discovery of a open-pittable coal resource of 1.04 billion tonnes in the Limpopo
Province. The coal is bituminous, and is suitable for generating electricity.

Where is the deposit

The discovery at Chapudi came through Rio Tinto's coal exploration programme in
the Limpopo (Soutpansberg) coal basin of South Africa. The exploration work has
been conducted in conjunction with Rio Tinto's BEE partner, Kwezi Mining.
Exploration rights over the resource are held by two JV companies; Chapudi Coal
PTY Ltd (Rio Tinto 70%) and Kwezi Mining Exploration PTY Ltd (Rio Tinto 49%).

Deposit Location

Rio Tinto and Kwezi are continuing with exploration activities for thermal and
coking coal east of the Chapudi project.


The chief executive of Rio Tinto Energy & Minerals, Preston Chiaro, said: ' This
is a significant find in an area that has previously been viewed as having
little geological potential. The project's potential to produce thermal coal for
electricity generation comes at a time when South Africa needs to rapidly
increase its generating capacity. In addition, the basin offers the opportunity
to produce a range of products, from thermal to hard coking coal for the export
markets. We are currently planning the next phase of the project by beginning
our pre-feasibility studies.'

Chapudi Geology



The newly discovered Chapudi Resource lies within the Limpopo coal basin, in the
northern part of South Africa. The coal is hosted in sediments of the Karoo
Group, similar to other coalfields in Southern Africa. The coal seams at Chapudi
occur in mudstones that can be correlated to the Upper Ecca formations of the
Main Karoo basin.



Rio Tinto and Kwezi Mining began exploring for coal in the area in 2003, when
the 1st borehole was drilled on the farm Chapudi. This borehole intersected
significant thicknesses of coal. Since then, the Rio Tinto-Kwezi JV has drilled
about 90 boreholes in the project area, and conducted geophysical surveys to aid
the geological interpretation. A total of 12,400 metres have been drilled to
date.



The central part of the project now has sufficient drilling coverage to define a
measured and indicated resource. The rest of the project area has been drilled
to inferred resource status.

In-situ Resource (SAMREC/JORC)

The resource at Chapudi has been generated to comply with both SAMREC and JORC
code guidelines. The tabulated figures below include the Seam 6 in-situ
resource, as confined by Rio Tinto's granted tenure.


Resource Category      Western        Central      Eastern      Total Chapudi 
                       Zone (Mt)      Zone (Mt)    Zone (Mt)        (Mt)

Measured                                90                           90
Indicated                              220                          220
Inferred                  410                        320            730
All Categories            410          310           320          1,040

Note: Blank cells mean no resource in this category in the relevant zone as the
entire resource in the zone is in different category(ies).



Preliminary studies indicate that up to 40 per cent of the coal may be
recoverable for utilisation in a power station.



Significant potential for further resources exists in the area. Some of the
potential occurs on ground that already belongs to the JV (and can be
incorporated into the Chapudi resource by further drilling), whilst other
potential is on ground currently under lease application.

Future Direction

The coal has been demonstrated through test work to be suitable for combustion
to generate electricity.



Rio Tinto and Kwezi Mining are currently investigating the feasibility and
economics of establishing a mining operation to feed coal into a power station.
They are currently engaging with Eskom, and a number of Independent power
providers to this effect.

CP statement

The information in this report that relates to Mineral Resources is based on
information compiled by Steen Kristensen, who is a member of the Australian
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Steen is a full-time employee of Rio Tinto
Energy and has experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and
type of deposits under consideration and to the activity which they have
undertaken to qualify as a Competent Persons as defined in the 2004 Edition of
the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Minerals Resources
and Ore Reserves'. Steen Kristensen consents to the inclusion in the report of
the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it
appears.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK,
combining Rio Tinto plc, a London 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, production forecasts and
reserve and resource positions), 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]

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]


Website: www.riotinto.com
High resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk




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