Rio Tinto and Indium Corporation Achieve First Primary Gallium Extraction in Quebec, Advancing Domestic Critical Mineral Production

[Rio Tinto Extracts First Primary Gallium at Quebec Refinery]

Rio Tinto, in partnership with Indium Corporation, has successfully extracted its first batch of primary gallium at the Vaudreuil alumina refinery in Quebec—Canada's sole alumina refinery. This marks a key strategic step toward producing critical minerals domestically, especially in the context of China’s December 2024 export ban on gallium, germanium, and antimony to the U.S.

Gallium, essential for semiconductors and high-performance electronics, is currently produced entirely outside North America, with a global annual supply of just 600 metric tonnes. The initial extraction was performed at Indium's R&D facility in New York, and both companies plan to scale up to pilot production. If successful, a demonstration plant in Quebec with a 3.5-tonne annual capacity will follow, backed by government support. A full-scale plant with a 40-tonne annual capacity—5–10% of global supply—is also under consideration.

This development supports North American efforts to secure critical mineral supply chains amid growing geopolitical tensions.