Australia, Japan, U.S. and Alcoa Greenlight Gallium Production Plant in Western Australia

The governments and industry partners of Australia, Japan, and the United States, together with Alcoa Corporation, have announced a final investment decision to build a gallium production plant co-located at Alcoa's Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia.

The plant will be constructed and operated by Alcoa, drawing on the company's extensive experience in alumina refining and advanced mineral processing. The facility is intended to create a new, reliable source of gallium in support of partner governments' broader efforts to strengthen critical mineral supply chains.

William F. Oplinger, President and CEO of Alcoa, said the final investment decision reflects a shared commitment among governments and industry to strengthen critical mineral supply chains across the partner countries. He said the project highlights the strategic importance of Western Australia and the role Alcoa's operations play in delivering materials essential to the global economy.

Gallium is a critical mineral used in advanced technologies, including semiconductors and defense applications, and global supply is currently highly...