Alcoa Corporation has initiated construction on a gallium production facility at its Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia, marking a strategic expansion into the critical minerals supply chain.
The project, announced Monday, will extract gallium as a byproduct during the conversion of bauxite to alumina, rather than through dedicated mining operations. Gallium is a key component in semiconductor manufacturing, high-performance electronics and certain renewable energy technologies.
During the construction phase, the facility is expected to generate up to 200 jobs, while operations will require approximately 20 permanent staff once operational. The initiative reflects growing industrial demand for gallium amid supply chain diversification efforts across Australia, Japan and the United States.
Alcoa did not disclose a timeline for completion or the facility’s projected output capacity. The company emphasized the project’s role in supporting downstream industries reliant on gallium, a metal with limited primary production sources globally.
