The Australian, U.S., and Japanese governments have joined forces with Alcoa Corp. to greenlight a gallium production plant to be co‑located at Alcoa’s Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia.
The partners have reached a final investment decision to construct the dedicated gallium production plant.
The Wagerup facility will be built and operated by Alcoa, leveraging the company’s extensive expertise in advanced mineral processing.
The refining process allows gallium to be extracted directly from bauxite without requiring new mining infrastructure, minimising the project’s environmental footprint.
Gallium is a soft, silvery metal crucial for producing semiconductors, mobile phones, radar systems, and LEDs. However, the global supply chain is currently highly vulnerable.
China dominates the market, controlling roughly 98 per cent of global gallium production.
This joint venture represents a significant pivot by Western allies to diversify supply and establish a reliable, transparent alternative.
The project was prioritised under the United States-Australia Framework for Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths.
Australian funding for the venture is being delivered through Export Finance Australia under the government’s Critical Minerals Facility, directly supporting the objectives of the Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve.
“This final investment decision reflects a shared commitment by governments and industry to strengthen critical mineral supply chains among the partners,” said William Oplinger, President and CEO of Alcoa.
“The project underscores the strategic importance of Western Australia and the role Alcoa’s operations play in delivering critical materials essential to the global economy.”
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King said the announcement underscores the government’s resolve to lead the global transition in critical minerals.
“By unlocking gallium production from existing bauxite and alumina operations, Australia is building supply chains that bolster global technology, defence capability and economic security,” King said.
“Our national security and the security of our partners is built on the back of our resources sector.”
The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) welcomed the announcement, noting that the project proves Australia can remain highly competitive on the global stage when government policy aligns with industry capabilities.
Beyond its geopolitical significance, the project provides a timely boost to the local economy.
Construction activities are slated to commence following final site preparations, a phase expected to create up to 200 regional jobs.
Once fully operational, the Wagerup plant will sustain around 20 direct, full-time positions, embedding high-value chemical processing capabilities within the state.
