Rio Tinto Aluminium

Rio Tinto PLC
27 June 2006

Rio Tinto Aluminium signs smelter agreement



Rio Tinto's Aluminium product group (via its operating company Comalco Aluminium
Limited) announced today that it has signed a Heads of Agreement with General
Holding Corporation (GHC), a 100 per cent owned entity of the Emirate of Abu
Dhabi, to undertake detailed studies on the construction of an aluminium smelter
in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.



The Agreement was signed by His Highness Sheikh Hamed Bin Zayed al-Nahyan,
Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, chairman of the Department of
Planning and Economy and chairman of GHC, and Sandeep Biswas, managing director
of Comalco Smelting.



'We are delighted to have signed this Heads of Agreement with the General
Holding Corporation,' said Mr Biswas. 'This is part of our ongoing global search
for greenfield smelting opportunities.



'The Middle East is fast becoming a key region in the global aluminium smelting
industry and Abu Dhabi is well placed due to its significant energy resources.



'We are very encouraged by the long term potential of this partnership and the
opportunities it presents,' said Mr Biswas.



'Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding some months ago, the
completion of a preliminary study has indicated a positive outlook. It has now
been decided to move to the next, more detailed, feasibility stage.



'The Heads of Agreement will allow us to jointly investigate the feasibility of
a world class aluminium smelter in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi,' he said.



The official signing took place whilst His Highness Sheikh Hamed and his party
toured Comalco's operations in Queensland, Australia.





Note to Editors



General Holding Corporation



General Holding Corporation (GHC) is a 100 per cent government of Abu Dhabi
owned industrial holding group. It owns and operates industries in steel,
cement, cable, food, oil and gas fabricated process and structures.



Rio Tinto Aluminium



Rio Tinto Aluminium is an integrated primary aluminium producer with operations
located in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Rio Tinto Aluminium is the
aluminium product group for Rio Tinto, a world leader in finding, mining and
processing the earth's minerals.



(A photograph of representatives from GHC and Rio Tinto Aluminium after the
signing ceremony is available on request.)





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High resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk




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