JAKARTA, November 05, 2008. Rio Tinto Indonesia today announced their commitment in providing more than US$700,000 in funds to support a quality education programme for Indonesia’s future leaders. The program will enable talented young Indonesians students to further their higher education at graduate and post graduate levels in both Indonesia and abroad. The fund will see 10 Indonesian undergraduates study at local universities, one graduate student at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia and four post graduate students at the Australian National University (ANU).

The Rio Tinto Scholarship Fund is a dedicated Rio Tinto education initiative and is focused on Sulawesi beneficiaries. Prior to the introduction of the new Scholarship Fund, the company has proactively initiated various education programmes in the areas where it operates, including:

• Education Fund Assistance Programme:  that provides assistance to 9,823 underprivileged students in 228 schools in 135 villages throughout the East Kutai Regency, East Kalimantan. Worth US$179,360, the programme carried out by Yayasan Lembaga GNOTA

• Education Development Programme: a three years programme designed to build capacity in selected schools, teachers and communities at East Kutai Regency, East Kalimantan. Worth US $700,000, the programme is carried out by PT Provisi Mandiri Pratama

• Morowali Scholarship Programme: one-year scholarships for 50 deserving students that were affected by the June 2007 flood and landslides in the regency.  Students pursue their education in Palu, Central Sulawesi. The value of the programme is US$50,000 and it is managed in conjunction with University of Tadulako.

• Kelian Farming Vocational School: Part of the Kelian mine closure programme, the Farming Vocational School Project was initiated by PT Kelian Equatorial Mining a subsidiary of Rio Tinto and involves establishment of a Farming Vocational Boarding School located in the seven hectare area belonging to the Anum Lio Foundation (former Rio Tinto Foundation)

 “Rio Tinto believes that the future of our success as a business depends not only on the skills of our people and the quality and diversity of the Group’s assets but also in the shared commitment to become a dependable global partner and a reliable neighbour,” said Rio Tinto President Director Omar S. Anwar.

Rio Tinto Indonesia will soon become neighbour of people in Morowali and Konawe because the Contract of Work application for the Sulawesi Nickel Project is nearing completion. “Principally the administration of our application with the central government is almost finished. We are now waiting for administration process with the local governments.” Omar explained. “The Sulawesi Nickel Project will provide a significant contribution for the social, economic and technological development of the people of Southeast and Central Sulawesi. The project will provide employment for approximately 5,000 people.” Omar mentioned

The programme, named “Rio Tinto Scholarship Fund,” will be managed by Sampoerna Foundation, a professional philanthropic organization dedicated to the development of competent leaders.

“According to Department of National Education data for 2006/2007, there are 83,639 students in Sulawesi region who will not have the opportunity to continue their studies to tertiary level. The size of the group is one of the reasons we believe continuing support is essential. The challenges associated with ameliorating the large sum of money needed to educate young Indonesians are too big to be handled by a single organization, or by the government alone.” said Chief Operating Officer  Sampoerna Foundation, Elan Merdy.

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.
 

About Sampoerna Foundation (SF)

Sampoerna Foundation (SF) is a professional philanthropy organization dedicated to creating competent leaders with good moral fibre through high value quality education. Since 2001, SF has disbursed more than 32,000 scholarships for students from elementary to graduate level at both local and overseas institutions.

As at 2005, SF has also implemented school development programs in 17 schools and 5 madrasahs in Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Bali. The program's aims include, but are not limited to, improving students' learning outcomes, teacher and principal quality and school performance as a whole. In 2006, SF launched the Sampoerna Foundation Teacher Institute, the Sampoerna School of Business and Management-ITB, and also set up a student loan facility.

In the third quarter of 2007, Sampoerna Foundation was granted ISO 9001-2000, an international certification for its quality management systems. To learn more, please visit www.sampoernafoundation.org