Exhibit 99.1

News release…

Date: 1 June 2006
Ref: PR480g

Guinea Signs Simandou Iron Ore Mining Concession for Rio Tinto

Government ministers from the Republic of Guinea met today (June 1^st) with Paul Skinner, chairman of Rio Tinto, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London to mark the signing of a major iron ore mining concession in the West African state.

Rio Tinto has been granted a mining concession by the Government of Guinea for development of the Simandou iron ore project.

Rio Tinto has been exploring and evaluating the iron ore potential of Simandou under exploration licences granted in 1997 and Rio Tinto Iron Ore is working on a pre-feasibility study for the Pic de Fon resource within the Simandou concession. To date, Rio Tinto has spent over US$30 million on the project.

Paul Skinner thanked the Guinea government for its support and looked forward to continuing this close cooperation as studies on a possible mine at Simandou progress.

“Building on our experience around the world we are working closely with the government and international agencies to ensure that the development of Simandou is planned and executed in a manner that will maximise the benefits to local communities and to the country incorporating the very highest standards of environmental practice”, said Mr Skinner.

Cont…/

Rio Tinto plc 6 St James’s Square London SW1Y 4LD
Telephone 020 7930 2399 Fax 020 7930 3249
REGISTERED OFFICE: 6 St James’s Square London SW1Y 4LD Registered in England No. 719885

For further information, please contact:
LONDON	AUSTRALIA
Media Relations	Media Relations
Nick Cobban	Ian Head
Office: +44 (0) 20 7753 2305	Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3620
Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 041 003	Mobile: +61 (0) 408 360 101
Investor Relations	Investor Relations
Nigel Jones	Dave Skinner
Office: +44 (0) 20 7753 2401	Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3628
Mobile: +44 (0) 7917 227 365	Mobile: +61 (0) 408 335 309
David Ovington	Susie Creswell
Office: +44 (0) 20 7753 2326	Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3639
Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 010 978	Mobile: +61 (0) 418 933 792

Website: www.riotinto.com
High resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk

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