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Rio Tinto plc guarantees - Additional information (Detail) $ in Millions, $ in Billions | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 AUD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 AUD ($)
Disclosure Of Financial Guarantees [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Derivative contracts liability | $ 481 | $ 517 |  |
Borrowings | 15,176 | 17,630 |  |
Company contributions to pension plans | 51 | 94 |  |
Guarantees issued by Rio Tinto plc in relation to Rio Tinto Group entities | 338 | 337 |  |
Guarantees issued to non wholly owned subsidiaries | 60 | 60 |  |
Liability recognised for financial guarantees | $ 21,974 | 23,601 |  |
Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd (including Oyu Tolgoi LLC) [member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Guarantees [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd |  |  |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 51.00% |  |  |
Oyu Tolgoi LLC [member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Guarantees [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Borrowings | $ 4,300 | 4,300 |  |
Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC [member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Guarantees [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership interest in joint venture | 34.00% |  |  |
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Oyu Tolgoi LLC |  |  |
Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd [member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Guarantees [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Oyu Tolgoi LLC |  |  |
Ownership interest in joint venture | 66.00% |  |  |
Guarantees [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Guarantees [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Guaranteed amount of external debt | $ 7,900 | 10,200 |  |
Undrawn credit facility | 7,500 | 7,500 | $ 9.6 | $ 10.4
Derivative contracts liability | 231 | 458 |  |
Liability recognised for financial guarantees | 389 | 415 |  |
CSU [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Financial Guarantees [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Fees received as consideration for provision | 44 | 13 |  |
Provision due from related parties, current | $ 12 | $ 13 |  |

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