Montreal, Canada - Alcan Inc. (NYSE, TSX: AL) announced today that it will host the first ever Alcan Prize for Sustainability Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia from March 1-3 2006. The three-day conference will take place at the Wosk Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University and will see representatives from all 22 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) short-listed over the past two years for the annual US$1 million Alcan Prize for Sustainability engage in an exchange of best practices.

"We launched the Alcan Prize for Sustainability to underline our conviction that addressing global sustainability issues requires a global effort," said Travis Engen, President and Chief Executive Officer Alcan Inc. "We believe the Alcan Prize for Sustainability Conference underlines our commitment to creating a legacy of learning associated with the Alcan Prize. The results of this dialogue will be made broadly available to businesses, governments, NGOs, and individuals striving to understand the challenge of sustainable development on a global scale," he added.

A key outcome of the conference will be a summary report, which will be prepared by the U.K. based International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF). The IBLF serves as a third-party manager of the Alcan Prize thereby ensuring its objectivity and credibility.

Vancouver was selected as the site for the Alcan Prize for Sustainability Conference because of its reputation as one of the world's most liveable and sustainable cities. A Vancouver movement known as "30 Days of Sustainability," has grown out of the Alcan Prize initiative and is expected to become an annual event. This year, it will begin with the APSC and conclude with Globe 2006, one of the world's foremost international conferences of business and the environment, which takes place biannually in Vancouver. During the month of March, a number of sustainability-oriented activities are planned throughout the city. For more information, see www.30daysofsustainability.com.

Alcan is a multinational, market-driven company and a global leader in aluminum and packaging. With world-class operations in primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum as well as flexible and specialty packaging, aerospace applications, bauxite mining and alumina processing, today's Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs for innovative solutions and service. Alcan employs approximately 70,000 people and has operating facilities in 55 countries and regions.

Investor Contact:
Corey Copeland
Tel.: +1-514-848-8368
investor.relations@alcan.com

Rio Tinto Alcan

Rio Tinto Alcan

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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