Feasibility Study on Restarting Kaolin Operations

Rio Tinto PLC
31 January 2000

Weipa Kaolin                                                                  
                               

In July 1999, Comalco and J.M. Huber Corporation of the United
States  signed an Agreement enabling J.M. Huber to  conduct  a
detailed feasibility study on the viability of restarting  the
kaolin operations at Weipa, Queensland.

J.M.  Huber  has advised Comalco that based on the results  of
the  six month feasibility work it will not be exercising  its
rights  under  the  Agreement  to  purchase  Comalco's  kaolin
assets.

Comalco  closed the kaolin operations in 1996 and a  financial
charge  was  recorded  to fully provide against  the  carrying
value of the assets.

For further information contact:

Media Relations                    Investor Relations
Alexis Fernandez                   Peter Jarvis
+ 44 207 753 2305                  + 44 207 753 2401