Rio Tinto Alcan to Sell its Brockville Activated Aluminas Business

MONTREAL, August 4, 2010 - Rio Tinto Alcan announces that it has signed an Asset Sale Agreement
(ASA) with France-based Axens regarding sale of its activated aluminas
business in Brockville, Ontario, Canada.

"The decision to sell our Brockville business stems from a strategic
review of our North American specialty aluminas business, said Frederic Rame,
General Manager of Rio Tinto Alcan Specialty Aluminas. "Brockville has been
very successful over the years and we are confident that this will continue
as it benefits from new growth opportunities under Axens."

The terms of the ASA are confidential. The transaction is expected to
close by end-September 2010.

Axens, which is a fully owned subsidiary of IFP New Energy, is an
international provider of advanced technologies, catalysts, adsorbents and
services, with a global reputation for basic engineering design excellence.
The main scope of Axens' business is focused on the conversion of oil, coal,
natural gas and biomass to clean fuels as well as production and purification
of major petrochemical intermediates.

The Brockville activated aluminas business employs 52 people.

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.

For further information: For further information: Media Relations, Rio
Tinto Alcan: Bryan Tucker, Tel.: +1-514-848-8151, Bryan.tucker@riotinto.com;

Website: www.riotintoalcan.com

For further information: For further information: Media Relations, Rio
Tinto Alcan: Bryan Tucker, Tel.: +1-514-848-8151, Bryan.tucker at riotinto.com;