Alcoa, whose global headquarters are based in Pittsburgh, announced it had joined government and industry partners from Australia, Japan and the U.S. to break ground on a gallium production plant in western Australia.
Alcoa Australia President Elsabe Muller was joined by Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Metals, Mineral Resources and Recycling Division at Sojitz Corporation, Katsunori Okada; Australian Minister for Industry and Innovation, Tim Ayres; Director General of the Minister’s Secretariat at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Kazumi Nishikawa; Alcoa Wagerup Alumina Refinery Operations Manager, Paul Kuczma; Australian Minister for Resources, Madeleine King; Western Australian Minister for State Development, David Michael; and The United States Consul General in Perth, Colleen Altstock for the ceremony
The project will start immediately and will see the construction of a new facility co-located at Alcoa’s Wagerup alumina refinery. Constructed and operated by Alcoa, the gallium project demonstrates a global effort to strengthen critical mineral supply chains, officials said.
“Alcoa is proud to work alongside our partners in Australia, Japan and the United States to help diversify the global gallium market,” Alcoa Australia President Elsabe Muller said. “We are grateful to have Australian federal Ministers King and Ayres and Western Australian Minister Michael, along with honored guests, be part of today’s event as we showcase Western Australia’s role in delivering essential materials to the world.”
The plant is expected to create up to 200 local construction jobs in Australia and an estimated 20 permanent positions once the plant is operational. The groundbreaking, officials said, was a significant milestone for the joint venture as it will advance a new, reliable source of gallium, and recognize the role of Alcoa’s Western Australia operations in delivering critical minerals to the global economy.