Final investment decision made as Alcoa moves ahead with refinery in Western Australia
U.S. aluminum producer Alcoa has received the final go-ahead to begin construction of its gallium refinery in Australia. The company will build and operate the facility at its existing Wagerup alumina refinery in the state of Western Australia.
Australia and the United States are providing financial support for the project in exchange for offtake rights to the critical technology metal, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced when unveiling the initiative last year. Japan is participating through a joint venture between the state-backed Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) and trading house Sojitz. The partnership has already supported the project’s development and will purchase a portion of the refinery’s future output.
The facility is expected to produce 100 metric tons of gallium annually, equivalent to around 10% of current global annual production, according to Australia’s Minister for Resources, Madeleine King.
China remains the world’s leading exporter of gallium but introduced strict export controls on the metal in the summer of 2023. As a result, alternative sources of supply are becoming increasingly important for global technology and semiconductor supply chains.
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