Komatsu Ltd. (President and CEO: Kunio Noji) (hereinafter Komatsu) and Rio Tinto (Chief Executive: Tom Albanese) November 1 in Japan, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (hereinafter MOU) to take the next step in large-scale implementation of Komatsu Autonomous Haulage System (hereinafter AHS) by committing to deploy at least 150 Komatsu AHS trucks into Rio Tinto Iron Ore Pilbara operations in Western Australia by the end of 2015 with equipment deployment commencing in 2012.

Rio Tinto has been testing Komatsu AHS, the world's first commercial autonomous mining haulage system, in the Pilbara since December 2008. During the trials the AHS technology demonstrated clear value to the business especially in the areas of health, safety and productivity.

The MOU was signed in Tokyo by Komatsu President and CEO, Kunio Noji, and Rio Tinto Chief Executive, Tom Albanese, in the presence of Rio Tinto Iron Ore President Pilbara Operations Greg Lilleyman and senior executives from both companies.

[Comment by Kunio Noji, President and CEO, Komatsu]
"We are extremely excited to sign the MOU with Rio Tinto to expand the fleet to at least 150 Komatsu AHS trucks in their Western Australian Pilbara operations by the end of 2015. Komatsu and Rio Tinto are global partners and have developed a strong alliance throughout the years. We are confident that our leading-edge AHS Technology will accelerate Rio Tinto's Mine of the Future™ objectives through improving safety and mine operations."

[Comment by Tom Albanese, Chief Executive, Rio Tinto]
"This announcement further reinforces our longstanding alliance with Komatsu. We have been partnering with Komatsu, using their advanced truck technology at our mines, for almost 20 years.

Autonomous haulage is an important component in our Mine of the Future™ programme. These new 150 Autonomous trucks will work with our pioneering Operations Centre that integrates and manages the logistics of 14 mines, three ports and two railways. These technologies are revolutionising the way large-scale mining is done, creating attractive hi-tech jobs, and helping us improve safety and environmental performance, and reduce carbon emissions."