Rio Tinto Alcan awards three Habitat for Humanity homes through Canadian recycling initiative and announces new Rio Tinto Alcan Sustainable Homes Program

    MONTREAL, May 5 /CNW Telbec/ - Rio Tinto Alcan is pleased to announce
that through its Alcan Builds on Recycling program, CAN$60,000 has been
awarded to each of the top three recyclers of used aluminum beverage cans
(UBC) to fund the construction of new Habitat for Humanity homes in their
communities.
    The Habitat for Humanity Canada (HFHC) affiliates of Greater Vancouver
(B.C.), Kamloops (B.C.) and Kingston & Frontenac (Ontario) collected over
5 million UBCs for the 2008 award. The winners were announced at HFHC'S Annual
General Meeting in Mississauga, Ontario, on May 3.
    "As a long-time supporter of Habitat for Humanity International, we are
delighted to help communities across Canada in their efforts to provide
affordable housing to families in need," said Corey Copeland, senior vice
president, Communications and External relations, Rio Tinto Alcan. "We are
also proud to continue our support of Habitat for Humanity Canada with today's
announcement of the new Rio Tinto Alcan Sustainable Homes Program."
    This initiative, which replaces the Alcan Builds on Recycling Program,
focuses on the promotion of safer and more sustainable building practices and
will award a total of CAN$200,000 in financial donations each year. More
information on the program will be available following the official launch in
June 2008, at www.riotintoalcansustainablehomes.com.
    "Our affiliates never cease to amaze us with their continued dedication
and accomplishments," said David Hughes, president and CEO of Habitat for
Humanity Canada. "There are so many ways to help build a Habitat home other
than picking up a hammer or raising a wall. Rio Tinto Alcan and its Alcan
Builds on Recycling Program provides an avenue for any person, at any age, to
help build simple, decent homes in partnership with families in need."

    Habitat for Humanity Canada (HFHC) is a national, non-profit, faith-based
organization working for a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to
live. The mission of the organization is to mobilize volunteers and community
partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means
to breaking the cycle of poverty.
    The organization was founded in 1985, consists of 35,000 volunteers,
72 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, and is a member of Habitat for
Humanity International. For more information, please visit: www.habitat.ca.

    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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For further information: Rio Tinto Alcan Media Relations: Stefano
Bertolli, [phone], [e-mail]; Habitat for Humanity
Canada: Stephanie Nadalin, [phone], [e-mail];
www.riotinto.com/riotintoalcan