Director/PDMR Shareholding

Rio Tinto PLC
12 October 2006

Rio Tinto plc

12 October 2006


                     Rio Tinto Share Ownership Plan ('SOP')

The SOP is an Inland Revenue approved trust arrangement, operated through Capita
AESOP Trustees Limited, under which employees are able to purchase ordinary
shares in the Company of 10p each ('ordinary shares'), using monthly deductions
from salary, and are allocated an equivalent number of free ordinary shares ('
matching shares').

On 12 October 2006 Rio Tinto plc was notified that, on 10 October 2006 in
London, the following executive directors and persons discharging managerial
responsibility ('PDMRs') of the Company each purchased ordinary shares at a
price of £25.95 and were allocated the same number of matching shares, free of
charge:

                             No. of shares        Total ordinary      Percentage of issued share
                               acquired            shares held                 capital                            
                                                  
Director
G.R. Elliott                      10                  48,015                  0.004654%

PDMRs
K.Johnson                         10                  17,520                  0.001698%
A.V.Lawless                       10                  8,467                   0.000821%
A.Mackenzie                       10                  40,440                  0.003920%
M.Merton                          10                  1,709                   0.000166%
A. Vickerman                      10                  5,400                   0.000523%


The above directors/PDMRs also have an interest in 864 shares as potential
beneficiaries of the Rio Tinto Employee Share Ownership Trust

This announcement is made in accordance with the requirements of the Financial
Services Authority Disclosure Rules 3.1.2 to 3.1.4.

Enquiries:        Louise Brennan
                  Secretarial Assistant
                  Rio Tinto plc
                  Tel: [phone]


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