Rio Tinto media release Web versionhttp://riotinto.msgfocus.com/q/1MtPh896iLCP7A/wv If you have problems viewing images in Outlook, please add us to your safe list http://riotinto.msgfocus.com/c/1w9cYAAcX5FfNzVsT 4 August 2011 Rio Tinto announces record first half earnings Click to download full pdf article Download full release in pdf here http://riotinto.msgfocus.com/c/1w9dnOV8KU2wYkefG Record first half underlying earnings1 of $7.8 billion, 35 per cent above 2010 first half Record first half net earnings1 of $7.6 billion, 30 per cent above 2010 first half Record first half underlying EBITDA1 of $14.3 billion, 27 per cent above 2010 first half Record first half cash flow from operations up 31 per cent to $12.9 billion Capital expenditure of $5.1 billion in 2011 first half, compared with $1.8 billion in 2010 first half, reflecting the ramp up of investment in world class tier one growth assets Growth programme gathers momentum: o Pilbara iron ore expansion to 283 million tonnes per annum (Mt/a) on track to complete by end of 2013 o Proposed expansion of Pilbara to 333 Mt/a brought forward by six months to first half of 2015: full approval decision expected in early 2012 o Rio Tinto assumes control of Riversdale and completes acquisition on 1 August: first coal from Benga anticipated by the end of 2011 with substantial growth options ahead o Rio Tinto increases investment in Ivanhoe to 46.5 per cent: first commercial production from Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold project in Mongolia expected by 2013 o First shipment of iron ore from Simandou expected by mid-2015 following Settlement Agreement with Government of Guinea Share buy-back increased by $2 billion to $7 billion, to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2012, subject to market conditions.

This will maintain the momentum to date which has seen 44 million Rio Tinto plc shares bought back during 2011 at a total cost of $3.0 billion Interim dividend of 54 US cents per share declared, in line with the Group’s dividend policy and previous guidance 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 Tintos 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) 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. Contacts: Media Relations, EMEA / Americas Illtud Harri Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1152 Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 503 600 Tony Shaffer Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1138 Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 041 003 Christina Mills Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1154 Mobile: +44 (0) 7825 275 605 Media Relations, Australia / Asia David Luff Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3620 Mobile: +61 (0) 419 850 205 Karen Halbert Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3627 Mobile: +61 (0) 412 119 389 Bruce Tobin Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3612 Mobile: +61 (0) 419 103 454 Media Relations, Canada Bryan Tucker Office: +1 (0) 514 848 8151 Mobile: +1 (0) 514 825 8319 Investor Relations, London Mark Shannon Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1178 Mobile: +44 (0) 7917 576 597 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 Christopher Maitland Office +61 (0) 3 9283 3063 Mobile +61 (0) 459 800 131 Further information: If you have been forwarded this email, you may wish to click here to signup for our media releases directly. Follow us on Twitter http://riotinto.msgfocus.com/c/1w9dN3g4yIpO94x2t Website: www.riotinto.com http://riotinto.msgfocus.com/c/1w9echB0mwN5jOPPg LEGAL INFORMATION - Copyright © 2010 Rio Tinto.

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