Exhibit 4.08

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Rio Tinto plc
  5 Aldermanbury
    Square
London EC2V 7HR 
United Kingdom 
T +44 (0) 20 7781 2000
F +44 (0) 20 7781 1800



AJF/A-5275/Novation LetterRichard B EvansChief Executive OfficerRio Tinto Alcan1188 Sherbrooke Street WestMontreal, QuebecCanada H3A 3G2

29 January 2008



Dear Mr Evans

Transfer of employment contract

We refer to your employment contract between us dated 25 October
2007 (Contract).

As the other Rio Tinto executive directors have contracts with Rio Tinto London
  Limited we would like to make your contract consistent with this position.
  We, therefore, propose to transfer all of our rights, obligations and liabilities
  under the Contract to Rio Tinto London Limited with effect from 29 January
2008 as follows:-

| | • | Rio Tinto London Limited
      will perform the Contract and be bound by its terms in every way as if it
      was the original party to it in place of us.                                                                                                                                                                                       
| | - | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
| | • | You will perform the
      Contract and be bound by its terms in every way as if Rio Tinto
      London Limited was the original party to it in place of us.                                                                                                                                                                                      
| |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
| | • | We will have no further
      rights under the Contract, regardless of when such rights accrue.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
| |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
| | • | Each of us releases
      the other from all their obligations and liabilities under the Contract
      whether arising before, on or after 29 January 2008.                                                                                                                                                                                      
| |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
| | • | Each of Rio Tinto London
      Limited and you will have the right to enforce the Contract
      and pursue any claims and demands under the Contract against the
      other with respect to matters arising before, on or after 29
      January 2008 as if Rio Tinto London Limited was the
      original party to the Contract instead of us.
| |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
| | • | The Contract shall in all
      other respects continue on its existing terms.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    







Rio Tinto plc. Registered office 5 Aldermanbury Square,
  London, EC2V 7HR, United Kingdom. 
  Registered in England No. 719885.

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Please acknowledge your consent to the proposed transfer by signing, dating and
returning the enclosed copy letter.

Yours sincerely



|/s/ Ben Mathews                    | 
|---------------------------------- | 
|                                   | 
|For and on behalf of Rio Tinto Plc | 



|/s/ Ben Mathews                                   | 
|------------------------------------------------- | 
|                                                  | 
|For and on behalf of Rio Tinto London
    Limited | 



I hereby consent to the transfer of the Contract on the terms set out above

|                         | 
|------------------------ | 
|/s/ Dick Evans           | 
|                         | 
|Richard B. Evans         | 
|                         | 
|Date:29
    January 2008 | 

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