Yarwun Refinery and expansion

Rio Tinto PLC
18 March 2008


Yarwun Refinery and expansion meet increasing global alumina demand


18 March 2008



Rio Tinto Alcan is firmly positioned to meet growing global demand for alumina,
with its Yarwun alumina refinery achieving record performance in November and
December, and with significant progress being made on the refinery expansion
project.



Expansion work on the Yarwun alumina refinery, near Gladstone, Queensland is
progressing on budget and is on track for its first shipment of alumina in the
second half of 2010. The US$1.8 billion project, announced in July 2007, will
more than double annual production of the refinery, taking output from 1.4
million tonnes to 3.4 million tonnes by 2011.



The expansion project includes a gas-based 160 MW cogeneration plant which will
reduce CO2 emissions per tonne of alumina by 35 per cent relative to coal.



'In the eight months since the expansion project began, engineering is
approaching 25 per cent completion with over US$900 million committed by the end
of February 2008,' Project Director Keith Nugent said.



'There have been no lost time injuries on the project, with more than 400,000
hours worked (as at 29 February 2008) with a current workforce of just over 300
on site.  We expect to commence our first major concrete pour at the end of
March 2008', he said.



On completion, the expanded refinery, at 3.4 million tonnes per year, will
produce about four per cent of the total global alumina demand.



Rio Tinto Alcan Chief Operating Officer - Pacific, Bauxite and Alumina, Alistair
Field said the refinery was performing strongly, with recent production the best
since the refinery began operating.



'Since implementing a number of process enhancements in October 2007 the plant
has delivered record operating performance and further improvements have been
identified to exceed nameplate capacity in 2008,' Mr Field said.



'Rio Tinto has a defined pathway to become the largest producer of alumna, and
we will pursue this, while retaining our focus on excellence in health, safety
and environmental performance.'



With increased production at Yarwun, and expansion of the Gove refinery, Rio
Tinto Alcan will double its Australian alumina capacity by 2015.




About Rio Tinto



Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK,
combining Rio Tinto plc, a London 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, Australia                     Media Relations, London
Diane Collier                                  Christina Mills
Office:  [phone]                   Office: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                   Mobile: [phone]
Amanda Buckley                                 Nick Cobban
Office:  [phone]                   Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                    Mobile: [phone]


Media Relations, Americas                      Media Relations, Canada
Nancy Ives                                     Stefano Bertolli
Mobile:  [phone]                       Office:  [phone]


Investor Relations, Australia                  Investor Relations, London
Dave Skinner                                   Nigel Jones
Office:  [phone]                   Office:   [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                    Mobile: [phone]
Simon Ellinor                                  David Ovington
Office:  [phone]                   Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]                    Mobile: [phone]


Investor Relations, North America
Jason Combes
Office:  [phone]
Mobile: [phone]

Email:  [e-mail]


Website:  www.riotinto.com
High resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk








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