Australia, Japan, the US and aluminum producer Alcoa have confirmed their final investment decision to establish a gallium production facility at the company’s Wagerup alumina refinery.
This project aims to strengthen critical minerals supply chains, with gallium being vital for technologies such as semiconductors and defence applications.
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Alcoa will manage both the construction and operation of the production plant, employing its expertise in alumina refining and mineral processing.
Global gallium supplies are highly concentrated, and this new facility is intended to diversify supply and increase resilience across several key industries.
Alcoa president and CEO William Oplinger said: “The project underscores the strategic importance of Western Australia [WA] and the role Alcoa’s operations play in delivering critical materials essential to the global economy.”
Construction is expected to start after site preparations are finalised, with no need for additional bauxite mining as the plant will leverage bauxite already refined at the site.
The gallium facility will occupy approximately three hectares of cleared land in the south-eastern part of the Wagerup refinery site in WA. It will be a relatively modest addition, taking up less than 2% of the refinery’s total area and processing around 10% of its liquor stream.
Construction will occur in stages with five production units housed in a single enclosed structure.
Alcoa’s involvement in this joint venture is not expected to significantly impact its financial standing or operational results.
The project is set to create approximately 200 construction jobs and 20 operational roles, further highlighting the economic benefits to the region.
In August 2025, Alcoa, along with Japanese trading house Sojitz and the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security, assessed gallium production in WA.
The companies assessed the viability of gallium production at one of Alcoa’s alumina refineries in WA.
