Oyu Tolgoi management team

Rio Tinto PLC
12 February 2008


Rio Tinto strengthens Oyu Tolgoi management team


12 February 2008


Rio Tinto chief executive Tom Albanese today announced that Keith Marshall has
been appointed to the Oyu Tolgoi project team as managing director of Ivanhoe
Mines Mongolia, Inc. Keith will be responsible for developing the overall
project and will take a leading role in the ongoing Investment Agreement
negotiations with the Mongolian Government.

Keith is currently managing director of Palabora Mining Company in South Africa
where he successfully took the underground from an advanced project stage to a
stable operation that consistently achieves production rates in excess of the
original design capacity. Keith has had a long and successful career with Rio
Tinto focused on project management and operations, including at Greens Creek in
Alaska, and also in South America.

Oyu Tolgoi is owned by Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., in which Rio Tinto currently holds a
10 per cent interest.  Oyu Tolgoi is one of four of the largest undeveloped
copper projects in the world in which Rio Tinto has an interest. It is currently
scheduled to come into production in 2011 and reach production levels of 440,000
tonnes of copper and 320,000 ounces of gold per year.

Oyu Tolgoi is well positioned to the growing Asian copper markets. The project
will also bring substantial benefits to the local community and the people of
Mongolia. Keith Marshall's experience in both copper and in developing countries
will be invaluable as the project moves through the negotiations with the
Mongolian Government and the finalisation of community and training and
employment programmes. Rio Tinto's and Ivanhoe's objective is to develop Oyu
Tolgoi in a sustainable, mutually beneficial manner for their shareholders and
for the Mongolian people.


About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK,
combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE 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
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                                  Amanda Buckley
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 Nick Cobban                                      Ian Head
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 Media Relations, Americas
 Nancy Ives
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 Investor Relations, London                       Investor Relations, Australia
 Nigel Jones                                      Dave Skinner
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 Mobile: [phone]                      Mobile: [phone]

 David Ovington                                   Simon Ellinor
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 Investor Relations, North America
 Jason Combes
 Office: [phone]
 Mobile: [phone]

 Email: [e-mail]

 Website: www.riotinto.com
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