Rio Tinto shared on Dec. 13 that it is exploring the extraction and valorization of gallium from the bauxite processed at its Vaudreuil alumina refinery in Saguenay, Quebec, the only refinery of its kind in Canada, as part of an ongoing research and development initiative.  

If the preliminary phase of technology development is proven to be conclusive, the company plans to construct a demonstration plant in Saguenay to showcase extraction technology capable of producing up to 3.5 tonnes of gallium annually. Primary gallium, which is recovered from alumina ore, is an essential metal used in the production of integrated circuits, which are crucial for technologies like radar, smartphones, electric vehicles and laptops. 

This news comes not long after China’s Dec. 3 announcement regarding an immediate export ban on gallium, germanium and antimony to the U.S. in response to new U.S. restrictions on advanced technology sales to China. On Dec. 13, gallium prices spiked to their highest levels since 2011, reaching US$595 per kilogram. 

In 2022, all primary gallium for semiconductor production was sourced from outside of Canada. Recognizing the need to develop a domestic supply, the Government of Quebec has pledged up to $7 million to support the development of the demonstration plant.  

“I'm delighted to support this project, which promotes the acquisition of cutting-edge knowledge in the transformation of gallium, a critical and strategic metal in Quebec and around the world,” said Maïté Blanchette Vézina, Quebec’s minister of natural resources and forestry, in a Dec. 13 press release from Rio Tinto. “Today's announcement is directly in line with our government's vision of a circular economy, wealth creation in a greener economy, and Quebec's influence as a world leader in critical and strategic minerals.” 

According to Rio Tinto, a commercial-scale plant could have an extraction potential of 40 tonnes per year, which would account for between 5 to 10 per cent of global gallium production. Neo Performance Materials, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, is currently the only gallium producer in North America, with a facility located in Peterborough, Ontario where it uses recycling to retrieve the metal. 

Malika Cherry, senior advisor of media relations for Rio Tinto Canada and U.S., told CIM Magazine in an email that in the coming months, the company will develop the gallium extraction process from its alumina refining operations and will then conduct pilot tests. She noted that while the demonstration plant is being built, Rio Tinto teams will continue to work on the next research and development steps. 

‘‘Given the strategic importance of gallium in the North American supply chain, so as not to slow down this step if we go ahead, site preparation work for the demonstration plant should begin in the next few months,’’ Cherry wrote.