RioNor Exploration

Rio Tinto PLC 25 April 2006 Norilsk Nickel and Rio Tinto announce the creation of RioNor Exploration Norilsk Nickel, Russia's largest mining company, and Rio Tinto, one of the world's largest mining companies, today announced the creation of RioNor Exploration, a joint exploration and development company in Russia. RioNor Exploration is a limited liability company registered in Russia, owned 51 per cent by Norilsk Nickel and 49 per cent by Rio Tinto. Its headquarters will be located in Moscow. At the first meeting of the board of directors, Maxim Finsky of the Norilsk Nickel group was nominated as chairman of the board of directors, and Bruno Hegner of the Rio Tinto Group was nominated as the general director of RioNor Exploration. Initial efforts of the company will concentrate on exploration opportunities in the southern regions of the Siberian and Far-Eastern Federal Districts of Russia. Maxim Finsky, chairman of RioNor Exploration and deputy general director of Norilsk Nickel, said: 'Rio Tinto and Norilsk Nickel have made another step forward in developing our cooperation. Now we have in place the vehicle which will enable the joint venture to explore the opportunities available in the targeted areas. We are progressing well in setting up necessary business processes and building the organization and exploration team'. He commented that the work programmes for the first stage of the cooperation project activity are already under way. Earlier this year the companies signed a co-operation protocol in the Ministry of Natural Resources, followed by an agreement that established the formal terms governing their joint venture. The exploration and development company was created in accordance with the signed agreement. Background notes to editors Norilsk Nickel MMC Norilsk Nickel is the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium, and a major producer of platinum, copper and cobalt. MMC Norilsk Nickel is listed on several Russian exchanges (MICEX, RTS, GMKN), ADRs are traded over the counter in New York (NILSY US), London (MNOD LI) and Berlin (NNIA GR). Rio Tinto Rio Tinto is one of the world's leading mining groups, with a market capitalisation of about US $78 billion. Major products include aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy products, gold, industrial minerals (borates, titanium dioxide, salt and talc) and iron ore. It is listed on both the London and Australian stock exchanges and has an ADR listing on the New York Stock Exchange. For further information, please contact: LONDON AUSTRALIA Media Relations Media Relations Nick Cobban Ian Head Office: +44 (0) 20 7753 2305 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3620 Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 041 003 Mobile: +61 (0) 408 360 101 Investor Relations Investor Relations Nigel Jones Dave Skinner Office: +44 (0) 20 7753 2401 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3628 Mobile: +44 (0) 7917 227 365 Mobile: +61 (0) 408 335 309 David Ovington Susie Creswell Office: +44 (0) 20 7753 2326 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3639 Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 010 978 Mobile: +61 (0) 418 933 792 Website: www.riotinto.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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