Rio Tinto and Chinalco obtain clearance from Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)

Rio Tinto and Chinalco obtain clearance from Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)

Rio Tinto and Chinalco obtain clearance from Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)

Rio Tinto and Chinalco announced today that they have obtained clearance from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) regarding the proposed issue of convertible bonds to Chinalco and the indirect minority investment in Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation, as contemplated by the strategic transaction announced by Rio Tinto and Chinalco on 12 February 2009. Rio Tinto and Chinalco jointly filed a voluntary notice with CFIUS in connection with the transaction. The receipt of CFIUS clearance satisfies a regulatory pre-condition to the transaction.

This follows receipt of approvals from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on 25 March and the German Federal Cartel Office on 31 March.

About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Rio Tinto’s business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.

About Chinalco
Chinalco is an international diversified mineral resources company and one of the largest diversified metals and mining companies in China. Chinalco is an industry leader in processing nonferrous minerals. It conducts exploration and mining, processes various mineral resources including bauxite, copper and other metals, and provides engineering and technical services to the mining industry. Headquartered in Beijing, Chinalco and its subsidiaries have operations in 22 provinces in China and 15 overseas offices in 10 countries and regions. In 2008, Chinalco became a Fortune Global 500 company.

Contacts:

Media Relations London
Christina Mills
Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1154
Mobile: +44 (0) 7825 275 605

Nick Cobban
Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1138
Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 041 003

Media Relations, US
Tony Shaffer
Office: +1 202 393 0266
Mobile: +1 202 256 3667
Media Relations, Australia

Ian Head
Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3620
Mobile: +61 (0) 408 360 101

Amanda Buckley
Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3627
Mobile: +61 (0) 419 801 349

Investor Relations, London
Nigel Jones
Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 2049
Mobile: +44 (0) 7917 227 365

David Ovington
Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 2051
Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 010 978

Investor Relations, North America
Jason Combes
Office: +1 (0) 801 204 2919
Mobile: +1 (0) 801 558 2645

Investor Relations, Australia
Dave Skinner
Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3628
Mobile: +61 (0) 408 335 309

Simon Ellinor
Office: +61 (0) 7 3867 1607
Mobile: +61 (0) 439 102 811

Further information:

Email: questions@riotinto.com

Website: www.riotinto.com