Rio Tinto Names New Energy Chief

Rio Tinto PLC
16 November 1999


RIO TINTO NAMES NEW ENERGY CHIEF

Rio Tinto has announced the appointment of Gregory H. Boyce as Chief Executive
of its Energy product group. 

Mr Boyce, 45, will succeed Leigh Clifford, who will become Rio Tinto's Chief
Executive Officer following the retirement of Leon Davis in April of 2000.

Mr Boyce is currently President of Kennecott Energy, Rio Tinto's North American
coal operations in the Powder River Basin. 

He began his mining career in 1977 with kennecott, which was acquired by Rio
Tinto in 1989.  Mr Boyce has held a number of senior operating and staff roles
and was president of Kennecott Minerals Company from 1993 until November of
1994, when he was appointed president of Kennecott Energy. 

In the New Year, Mr Boyce will relocate from Gillette, Wyoming to Rio Tinto's
London head office. 

Gary J. Goldberg will replace Mr Boyce as President of Kennecott Energy.  Mr.
Goldberg is currently Vice President for Operations at Kennecott Energy. He has
held various positions in Kennecott and most recently was Mining Executive for
Rio Tinto's Gold & Other Minerals group based in London. 

For further information contact:

Media Relations               Investor Relations

Alexis Fernandez               Peter Jarvis
+ 44 207 753 2305              + 44 207 753 2401

Note to Editors:    (1)  Biography of Gregory H. Boyce is below
                    (2)  Rio Tinto's Energy group includes coal operations in
                         Australia, North and South America, Indonesia and      
                        uranium operations in Southern Africa. Total coal       
                       production in 1998 was 114 million tonnes.    



                              GREGORY H. BOYCE

         PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, KENNECOTT ENERGY COMPANY

Gregory H. Boyce is President & CEO of Kennecott Energy Company, responsible for
Rio Tinto's global Energy businesses in North America. Kennecott Energy Company
operates five coal mines in the Powder River Basin and one in Colorado. 

Prior to his appointment as the head of Kennecott Energy Company, Mr Boyce was
President of Kennecott Minerals Company, comprised primarily of US gold
operations.

Mr. Boyce began his career with Kennecott in 1977 at the Ray Mines Division in
Arizona.  During his career, Mr. Boyce has held numerous senior management
positions including Bingham Canyon Mine Operations Superintendent; Director of
Kennecott's Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs; General Manager of the
Barneys Canyon Mine; Mining Manager at the Bingham Canyon Mine; and Director of
Government and Public Affairs.

Mr. Boyce is a member of the Board of the National Mining Association, National
Coal Association, Western Regional Council, The Center for Energy and Economic
Development (CEED), National Coal Council, Mountain States Employers Council and
Wyoming Business Council.

Mr. Boyce holds a Degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Arizona
and an Advanced Management Degree from the Harvard University Graduate School of
Business.

He is married with two children.