Kennecott Utah Copper Top Earning Mine in Rio Tinto Group

COPPERTON, Utah, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, Kennecott Utah Copper (KUC), producer of about 13 percent of the United States' copper needs, is once again the Rio Tinto mine with the highest net earnings. KUC demonstrated strong performance in 2007 with net earnings of $1.6 billion.

KUC's 2007 production of refined copper rose to 292,800 tons, exceeding 2006 levels of 240,200, a 22 percent increase. Gold reached 523,000 ounces in 2007, surpassing the previous record level of 488,000 ounces set in 2002, a seven percent increase. Silver reached 4,364,700 ounces in 2007, surpassing the previous record of 4,151,700 ounces set in 2006, a five percent increase.

"We have shown our ability to be a top contributor for Rio Tinto, and I believe we have the people and resources to maintain strong long-term production," said Andrew Harding, President, Kennecott Utah Copper. "I am proud of the KUC employees and our operation."

Because it is a long life, low-cost operation, KUC continues to be one of Rio Tinto's most profitable and productive assets. KUC has one of the lowest cost profiles in the copper industry due to the presence of molybdenum, gold and silver in the ore body. These metals create significant value as co- products to copper. Additionally, at 105 years old, the Bingham Canyon Mine continues to present future growth options. Potential open pit expansions and underground operations could extend the life of the Bingham Canyon Mine to 2036. KUC is currently conducting a pre-feasibility study to evaluate future growth options.

KUC has also identified a world-class molybdenum deposit within the Bingham Canyon Mine. Molybdenum has been a major contributor to KUC's profitability in recent years and will continue to do so in the future because of its use in alloys, stainless steel and other metals, and its ability to enhance metal's toughness, high-temperature strength and corrosion ability.

KUC invested $82 million on an improvement project in 2004 to expand and modernize the bulk flotation process at KUC's Copperton Concentrator. During the bulk flotation process, copper, gold, silver and molybdenum are released from the ore and made into concentrate.

By improving concentrate quality and enhancing the production process, KUC is able to bring forward refined copper production planned for 2010 into 2008 and 2009. Additionally, KUC will improve copper, molybdenum, silver and gold recovery. The bulk flotation modernization will be completed during second quarter, 2008.

KUC's operations and personnel continue to be valuable resources for some of Rio Tinto's future undeveloped copper resources. KUC's extensive experience in employing best practice in workplace safety, environmental stewardship, community engagement and in its daily mining, concentrating, smelting and refining operations have been shared with Rio Tinto personnel involved in the future development of, Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia, Resolution in Arizona, and La Granja in Peru.

About Kennecott Utah Copper

As the second largest copper producer in the United States, Kennecott Utah Copper provides about 13 percent of this country's copper needs. Kennecott Bingham Canyon Mine is the largest man-made excavation in the world. It has produced more copper ore, 18.1 million tons, than any mine in the world. Every year, Kennecott produces approximately 300,000 tons of copper, along with 500,000 ounces of gold, 4 million ounces of silver, about 30 million pounds of molybdenum, and about 1 million tons of sulfuric acid, a by-product of the smelting process. Rio Tinto purchased Kennecott Utah Copper in 1989 and has invested about $2 billion in the modernization of KUC's operations. KUCC has also spent more than $350 million on the cleanup of historic mining waste and $100 million on groundwater cleanup. KUC employs 1,800 people and hundreds of contractors. www.kennecott.com

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto, the parent company to Kennecott companies, is a world leader in discovering, mining and processing the earth's mining resources in an economically, socially and environmentally responsible way. Wherever Rio Tinto operates, health and safety is the first priority. Group businesses also put sustainable development at the heart of their operations. They work as closely as possible with host countries and communities, respecting their laws and customs. For Rio Tinto, it is important that the environmental effects of its activities are kept to a minimum and local communities benefit as much as possible from operations. The businesses produce borates, coal, copper, aluminum, gold, gypsum, lead, molybdenum, silver, talc and zinc. The company employs more than 65,000 people worldwide. www.riotinto.com

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 actual production during any period, 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.