Transaction in Own Shares

Rio Tinto PLC
01 March 2006



Rio Tinto plc today acquired through JPMorgan Cazenove Limited 150,000 of its
ordinary shares at an average price of 2,695.0487 pence per ordinary share. The
purchased shares will all be held as treasury shares.

Following the above purchase, Rio Tinto plc holds 8,896,557 ordinary shares as
treasury shares. The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding shares
held as treasury shares) is 1,063,278,186.


For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations
Nigel Jones
Office: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]

Secretarial Department
Matthew Whyte
Office: [phone]

Website: www.riotinto.com



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