Government Approval

Rio Tinto PLC
15 June 2000

                                 
Hamersley receives approval to expand Yandicoogina to 20 Mtpa

Hamersley  Iron,  a  member of the Rio Tinto Group,  has  received
approval  from  the Western Australian Government  to  expand  its
Yandicoogina iron ore mining operations to 20 Mtpa.  The mine  has
a  current capacity of 15 Mtpa and in 1999, its first full year of
operation, produced 10.6 Mtpa.

'Yandicoogina has exceeded our expectations for production in 1999
and  its ore has been highly sought after by our customers, ' said
Mr  Sam  Walsh, Managing Director, Hamersley Iron.  'The expansion
will  enable us to participate fully in one of the fastest growing
market segments for iron ore.'

No   major   changes  to  the  existing  facilities  are  planned.
Increased  production capacity will be largely achieved  by  plant
modifications that will allow annual planned operating  hours  and
throughput rates to be increased.  The expansion program  will  be
completed by the end of this year.

The  Yandicoogina  operation is located in the  eastern  Hamersley
Ranges,  about 90 kilometres north west of Newman.  The  operation
was commissioned in late 1998 and consists of open pit mining with
primary, secondary and tertiary crushing and screening.
                                                                  
                                 
For further information, please contact:

Media Relations                    Investor Relations

Lisa Cullimore                     Peter Jarvis
+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2305              + 44 (0) 20 7753 2401

Website: www.riotinto.com