Alcoa, along with Japanese trading house Sojitz and the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), are assessing gallium production in Western Australia (WA).
Alcoa of Australia, a unit of US aluminium producer Alcoa, reached a joint development agreement with Japan Australia Gallium Associates (JAGA), a joint venture between Sojitz and JOGMEC.
The companies are evaluating the viability of gallium production at one of Alcoa's alumina refineries in WA.
Gallium, a critical mineral for the technology and defence industries, has seen heightened global demand due to market controls in China.
The collaboration between Alcoa of Australia and JAGA seeks to diversify the global supply of gallium.
This effort comes as both Australia and the US have classified gallium as a critical mineral, with Japan also recognising it as one of the 35 minerals crucial to national security.
Alcoa of Australia president Elsabe Muller said: “This opportunity could deliver additional value from our established operations and further demonstrate how Alcoa's long-standing mineral processing capabilities can be significant in supporting state, national and global objectives in technology and national defence.
“We welcome the opportunity to work with the JAGA partners, including Sojitz, who has considerable connection with midstream gallium refiners and manufacturers and would be an offtake customer in the project.”
Sojitz Metals Resources and Recycling Divisional chief operating officer Osamu Matsuura highlighted the project's significance, saying it “had the potential to introduce supply options for Japanese semiconductor production critical to global downstream processing and manufacturing".
The partners are working towards a final investment decision by the end of 2025, with production scheduled to begin in 2026.
This is subject to further commercial agreements as well as regulatory clearances.
Alcoa has clarified that this venture is not expected to materially affect the company's financial position or operational results.
Meanwhile, last month, Alcoa paused growth projects in Canada due to the impact of US tariffs, according to a Bloomberg report.
The company is considering seeking support from the Canadian Government to maintain its aluminium operations in Quebec.
