Alcoa to Build Gallium Plant at Wagerup Refinery

Alcoa has announced plans to construct a gallium production facility at its Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia. The company aims to commercially extract gallium, a byproduct of the alumina refining process. Gallium is a critical raw material for high-tech products, particularly semiconductors and solar panels. The project will utilize existing refinery infrastructure to install equipment for gallium separation and purification. While Alcoa has not yet disclosed the annual gallium production capacity, it stated that current waste management systems will be used to minimize environmental impact. Company officials highlighted growing demand in the gallium market, noting that this investment is part of Alcoa's portfolio diversification strategy. Rising gallium prices in recent years have been driven by the green energy transition and growth in the electronics sector. No official timeline for construction start or completion has been announced, but Alcoa confirmed that feasibility studies are complete and regulatory approval processes have begun. The investment is expected to boost local employment. This is not investment advice.