Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 19, Australia has officially approved the development of a new gallium refinery at Alcoa’s Wagerup operations in Western Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the project as an early cornerstone of Australia’s expanded critical minerals partnership with the United States. The refinery will be developed by Alcoa in collaboration with Japan’s Sojitz and supported by the US Export-Import Bank.

The refinery was selected as one of the first projects under the Australia-US Critical Minerals Framework, recently signed by Prime Minister Anthony Trump and President Donald Trump in Washington.

Speaking during a site visit this week, Albanese said the project would position Australia as a major supplier of gallium, a mineral essential for advanced electronics, defence technologies, and clean-energy systems. “This is what a future made in Australia looks like,” he said. “This project alone will produce around 10% of the world’s gallium, and it can scale further given the resource available here.”

The refinery will process gallium extracted from the bauxite handled at Alcoa’s existing alumina facilities. The project is expected to generate approximately 200 construction jobs in 2026 and a couple of dozen ongoing operational positions in the region. Alcoa currently employs around 1,500 staff at Wagerup and another 1,000 at its Pinjarra operations.

Albanese highlighted that the refinery is among the first projects identified under the Australia–US Critical Minerals Framework, signed recently in Washington. Under the framework, Canberra and Washington have earmarked A$8.5 billion for selected projects, with an initial A$3 billion in combined government support aimed at accelerating Australian supply of critical minerals.

The Australian government will provide A$200 million in concessional equity finance for the Wagerup refinery. Albanese emphasised that the project is expected to be underway by late 2026 and described it as a “game-changing project” for both Australia and the US, particularly as global competition for secure energy-transition metals intensifies.

The development reinforces Australia’s strategic role in supplying minerals crucial for emerging technologies and clean-energy systems. By integrating gallium extraction into existing bauxite and alumina operations, Alcoa aims to leverage current infrastructure and workforce expertise, ensuring efficiency and sustainability.

The partnership with Sojitz and backing from the US Export-Import Bank reflects growing international collaboration to secure stable supply chains for high-demand critical minerals. The project’s scalable production capacity and contribution to around 10% of global gallium output underline its significance for Australia’s industrial and technological growth.

In addition to job creation, the refinery will enhance regional economic activity and support Australia’s broader ambitions to expand its critical minerals sector. Officials note that the project aligns with ongoing efforts to secure a reliable supply of key minerals for global electronics, defence, and clean-energy markets, strengthening Australia’s position in the international minerals landscape.

With construction set to start by late 2026, the Wagerup gallium refinery is expected to become a major hub for mineral processing, contributing to long-term industry development while supporting international partnerships and technological innovation.