EGA secures gallium agreement

Emirates Global Aluminium is set to produce gallium, a critical mineral used across global supply chains.

It has signed an agreement with the Tawazun Council and aerospace and defence company RTX, to create gallium extraction and refining capabilities at EGA’s alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi.

It will make the UAE the world’s second largest producer of gallium.

Gallium has applications across many sectors, including in the production of semiconductors, electric vehicles, medical devices and telecom infrastructure.

For the defence industry, the supply of gallium is critical as it is a key component of defence products including radars.

This new agreement would secure access to this critical mineral for companies including RTX.

Tawazun Council is spearheading efforts through its Tawazun Economic Programme, a strategic initiative focused on attracting cutting-edge technologies, accelerating knowledge transfer, and building robust national industrial capabilities.

This approach is vital to reinforcing the UAE’s industrial security posture, ensuring the country’s defence sector remains resilient and competitive amid global challenges.

H.E Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of Tawazun Council, highlighted that the project aligns with the council’s strategy 2025–2028, to prioritise building a national industrial base and to advance industrial and technological security.

Central to this strategy is to attract investments, expand strategic partnerships locally and internationally, and empower Emirati talent.

EGA and RTX anticipate entering into an agreement to conduct a feasibility study for the gallium plant at the Al Taweelah alumina refinery, which processes bauxite ore into alumina, the feedstock for aluminium smelters.

Gallium is found in trace amounts in bauxite.

As gallium is an impurity in aluminium, gallium levels must be carefully managed in metal for the most demanding applications.

Source: www.aluminiumtoday.com