Escondida Expansion Approval

Rio Tinto PLC
27 November 2000


                        ESCONDIDA PHASE FOUR EXPANSION                        


The joint venture partners in the Escondida copper mine in northern Chile
today announced approval of the US$1.045 billion Escondida Phase IV expansion
project. Rio Tinto has a 30 per cent stake in Escondida and its share of the
project capital expenditure will be US$314 million.

A stable water supply for the project has been secured and development will
commence immediately with detailed engineering now 97 per cent complete. The
expansion will be complete within two years.

The Phase IV expansion will increase ore processing facilities by 85 per
cent, resulting in an average increase of copper production of 400,000 tonnes
per annum and boosting average total production to 1.2 million tonnes per
annum over the first five years of full operation.
 
The other joint venture partners are BHP, who is also operator, with a 57.5
per cent interest in the mine; Japan Escondida Corporation (owned
beneficially by Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation and
Nippon Mining and Metals Company Limited) with a 10 per cent interest; and
International Finance Corporation (2.5 per cent).
 
 
For further information contact:
 
LONDON
     
Media Relations                      Investor Relations 
 
Lisa Cullimore                       Peter Jarvis
+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2305                + 44 (0) 20 7753 2401

AUSTRALIA
 
Media Relations                      Investor Relations

Fiona Powell                         Dave Skinner
[phone] (office)              [phone] (office)
[phone] (mobile)              [phone] (mobile)
     
                                     Daphne Morros
                                     [phone] (office)
Website: www.riotinto.com