Comalco Agreement

Rio Tinto PLC
08 July 2003


Comalco Signs Conditional Agreement for PNG Gas


Comalco (Rio Tinto 100%) today announced that it had reached conditional
agreement with ExxonMobil (acting on behalf of the Highlands Gas Project) for
the supply of gas to the US$750 million Comalco Alumina Refinery project in
Gladstone, Queensland.



The parties will now proceed to negotiate a detailed agreement for Comalco to
purchase PNG gas through Energex, the Queensland Government owned energy
retailer.



The Comalco Alumina Refinery is under construction and on schedule to begin
production at the end of 2004, using coal and coal seam methane gas inputs.  The
refinery's design allows for the coal-fired generation plant to be converted to
gas.







For further information, please contact:


LONDON                                             AUSTRALIA
Media Relations                                    Media Relations
Lisa Cullimore                                     Ian Head
+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2305                              [phone]
Investor Relations                                 Investor Relations
Peter Cunningham                                   Dave Skinner
+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2401                              [phone]
Richard Brimelow                                   Daphne Morros
+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2326                              [phone]



Website: www.riotinto.com




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