MONTREAL, May 2 /PRNewswire/ - Rio Tinto Alcan, along with local
partners, officially inaugurated the CURAL (Centre universitaire de
recherche sur l'aluminium), an integrated research and development
laboratory dedicated to aluminium products and processes. The Centre is
located on the campus of the Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi, in
Saguenay, Quebec.

    "I am very pleased to reconfirm Rio Tinto Alcan's commitment to an
integrated research and development strategy with CURAL," said Jean Simon,
president, Primary Metal, North America, Rio Tinto Alcan. "This initiative
is another step in our efforts to contribute to economic diversification
and the development of new industrial applications and value-added
activities in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region."

    Announced in November 2005, Rio Tinto Alcan's share of the total
investment of more than CAN$9 million cost was approximately CAN$2 million.
"This new infrastructure and equipments at the university are significant,"
declared Jacynthe Cote, president and chief executive officer, Primary
Metal, Rio Tinto Alcan. "They increase considerably research synergy
between the university and our organization, in line with the strategic
needs of Rio Tinto Alcan."

    The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Honourable Jean-Pierre
Blackburn, Federal Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic
Development Agency of Canada for the region of Quebec, and Claude Bechard,
Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife for the Quebec government and
Minister in charge of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region.

    CURAL aims at intensifying research in the treatment of bauxite and
metal fabrication processes, particularly forging and assembling. Working
in conjunction with the nearby National Research Council's Aluminium
Technology Centre, the new university laboratory will promote fundamental
research at levels allowing easier large scale technological transfer and
increased use of aluminium.

    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.

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