Eagle Mine commitment

Rio Tinto PLC
17 December 2007



Rio Tinto to enter nickel market with US$300 million Eagle Mine commitment



17 December 2007



Rio Tinto is to invest US$300 million in the development of Eagle, a high-grade
nickel and copper mine in Michigan, USA.  Eagle will be the only primary nickel
mine in the US and first production is expected to begin in late 2009. Eagle is
projected to deliver 16,000 tonnes of nickel per year over seven years until
2016.  It will also produce valuable co-products of copper, platinum, palladium
and cobalt.



Rio Tinto is also in final contract negotiation to develop a nickel mine at
Sulawesi in Indonesia, with an initial operation of 46,000 tonnes per year with
first production commencing by 2015.  There is additional potential at Sulawesi
of a similar size.



Rio Tinto Copper Group Chief Executive, Bret Clayton said, 'Eagle gives Rio
Tinto a valuable opportunity to enter the market for nickel, a key input into
stainless steel, demand for which is rising strongly led by the development of
new infrastructure in developing economies, as well as rising demand for
consumer products and the development of associated processing plant and
equipment.



'Eagle is just one of many projects that will add to Rio Tinto's growth and
value. It is a 4.1 million tonne1 high-grade nickel resource (3.6% nickel, 2.9%
copper) in a highly prospective region for additional nickel discoveries.  Our
exploration team discovered Eagle in 2002 and we are now reviewing over 450,000
acres of mineral title we have in the area. Our focus is on six further adjacent
prospects that may have the potential to extend significantly the mine life at
current planned production rates.'



A two-year project construction phase will get underway in 2008, upon receipt of
additional approvals expected in 2008.  Three required permits were granted on
14 December 2007. Eagle's mine permit is the first issued by the State of
Michigan under the state's 2004 nonferrous metallic mining law, considered among
the most stringent in the US. The project is located in northwest Marquette
County near the City of Marquette.





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.





1  Please refer to previously announced resources in the Rio Tinto 2006 Annual
report and financial statements







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Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
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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
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the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the 'Takeover Code'), the UK Listing
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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.

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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:
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Media Relations, US

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Nigel Jones                                         Dave Skinner

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Website: www.riotinto.com

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