MONTREAL, CANADA - March 7, 2007 - Alcan has been named the industry champion for metals on Fortune Magazine's "America’s Most Admired Companies" list in 2007, and is the only Canadian company to be included on the rankings. In terms of social responsibility, Alcan ranked fifth out of the more than 1,000 largest U.S. companies and the top foreign companies operating in the U.S. surveyed.

"Alcan is extremely pleased to be named America's most admired metals company and to be the only Canadian company to join the ranks of such a distinguished group of corporations," said Dick Evans, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alcan Inc. "We are especially proud to be ranked an industry champion and to be recognized for our leading efforts in the area of social responsibility by both peers and third party observers. This is a direct reflection of the dedication and capability of all 68,000 Alcan employees around the world," he added.

The annual survey is a respected benchmark by which the world's most successful companies are ranked. More than 16,000 senior executives and directors were interviewed, along with financial analysts, to identify the companies that enjoy the strongest reputations within and across their industries.

Alcan's overall score places it within the top 15 of all companies. The Company ranked first in its industry in each of the key eight evaluated areas: innovation, people management, use of corporate assets, social responsibility, quality of management, financial soundness, long-term investment, and quality of products/services.

Other recent awards that Alcan has garnered include the National Safety Council's (NSC) Robert W. Campbell Award, which acknowledges the very best businesses worldwide to integrate environment, health and safety management as a key business value. Alcan was also awarded the World Environment Center's (WEC) Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development for the Company’s comprehensive integration of sustainability into its business decision-making and operations.

Alcan Inc. (NYSE, TSX: AL) is a leading global materials company, delivering high quality products and services worldwide. With world-class technology and operations in bauxite mining, alumina processing, primary metal smelting, power generation, aluminum fabrication, engineered solutions as well as flexible and specialty packaging today's Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs. Alcan is represented by 68,000 employees, including its joint-ventures, in 61 countries and regions, and posted revenues of US$23.6 billion in 2006. The Company has featured on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index consecutively since 2003. For more information, please visit: www.alcan.com.

Further information regarding Alcan's ranking is available on the appended backgrounder.

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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