The Elements of Innovation Discovered
The Elements of Innovation Discovered
Metal Tech News - December 16, 2024
Gallium is a rare metal used in semiconductors essential to a wide range of electronic devices.
Rio Tinto is investing in a plant to recover gallium as a byproduct at its operations in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, which accounts for nearly half of the company's global aluminum production.
In a move that could help fill the gap in supply left by China's ban on exports of gallium to the United States, Rio Tinto is investigating the potential of recovering this high-tech metal needed for computer chip manufacturing from its aluminum operations in Quebec.
''This new research and development project is destined to help strengthen the North American supply chain for critical and strategic minerals," said Rio Tinto Aluminium Chief Executive Jérôme Pécresse.
To bolster critical mineral supply chains in the U.S. and Canada, Rio Tinto is leveraging its mines and refineries to recover minor metals vital to high-tech manufacturing, clean energy, and other sectors of the economy.
This includes the recovery of tellurium for solar panels from its Kennecott copper mine in Utah, lithium for electric vehicle batteries from its Boron mine in California's Mojave Desert, and scandium for lightweight and strong alloys from its aluminum operations in Quebec.
Continuing this commitment to extract as much value as possible from the material it mines, Rio Tinto is exploring the potential of recovering globally significant quantities of gallium alongside the scandium and recovered from the bauxite processed at its aluminum operations in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec.
Bauxite, which is the primary commercial ore for aluminum, often contains small amounts of gallium and is a primary source of this tech metal.
Due to the recovery costs and the relatively small market size, mines and refineries outside of China do not recover gallium during the process of upgrading bauxite to aluminum. As a result, China currently produces 98% of the world's gallium, with the balance produced in Russia, Japan, and South Korea.
China's recent ban on exports of gallium to the U.S. elevated the urgency to develop alternative supplies of this semiconductor metal vital to the integrated circuits in smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles, telecommunications equipment, high-performance radar, and wide range of other military and consumer electronics.
A report published by the U.S. Geological Survey in November estimated that a total cutoff of gallium imports from China could send America's gross domestic product (GDP) plummeting by $3 billion.
"Losing access to critical minerals that make up a fraction of the value of products like semiconductors and LEDs can add up to billions of dollars in losses across the economy," said Nedal Nassar, lead author of the USGS report.
Rio Tinto is investing in a plant to recover gallium as a byproduct at its operations in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, which accounts for nearly half of the company's global aluminum production.
Rio Tinto's Saguenay alumina refinery has the potential to produce up to 40 metric tons of gallium per year, which would account for roughly 7% of the world's current production and would make Canada the world's second-largest producer of the tech metal.
"When it comes to critical minerals, Canada has all it takes to be the global supplier of choice and that's why our government is proud to work with key industry actors like Rio Tinto," said Canada Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne.
As the first step in elevating Canada's status as an important source of gallium, Rio Tinto plans to build a demonstration plant with the capacity to produce roughly 3.5 metric tons of the tech metal per year.
The government of Quebec has committed up to C$7 million ($4.9 million) to help support the demonstration phase.
"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 Quebec Natural Resources and Forestry Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina. "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."
Rio Tinto says the demonstration plant has the potential to be expanded to a commercial-scale circuit capable of producing roughly 40 metric tons of gallium per year, which is roughly four times the amount of the semiconductor metal currently produced outside of China.
"Today's announcement is a key step in developing a strategic North American supply chain and I am pleased to see all levels of government collaborate with industry to put Canada first," said Champagne. "When economic benefits are paired with a commitment to research and development, it's a win for Canadian industry and our workers."
Rio Tinto did not provide a timeline for installing the gallium pilot plant but Pécresse cautions that "many important steps are yet to be achieved."
"Rio Tinto is strongly involved in this important journey and thanks the Government of Quebec for its important contribution," the Rio Tinto Aluminum executive said.
With more than 16 years of covering mining, Shane is renowned for his insights and and in-depth analysis of mining, mineral exploration and technology metals.
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