Rio Tinto Advances Gallium Extraction Project in Canada with Federal Funding Support

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) is moving forward with a major research and development initiative to extract primary gallium from its alumina refining operations in Quebec, marking a significant step toward strengthening North America’s critical minerals supply chain. The project will receive up to C$18.95 million (US$13.9 million) in conditional, non-repayable funding from the Government of Canada through Natural Resources Canada’s Global Partnerships Initiative. This support complements the C$7 million previously committed by the Government of Quebec.

The global mining company plans to construct a pilot plant at its Complexe Jonquière facility in Saguenay, Quebec, to validate its gallium extraction technology in an industrial environment. Operations at the pilot facility are expected to begin in 2027. Rio Tinto previously announced it had successfully produced its first batch of gallium in May 2025 in collaboration with Indium Corporation, demonstrating early technical progress.

In addition to the pilot plant, Rio Tinto is evaluating the development of a demonstration plant at the same site with an estimated production capacity of up to four tonnes of gallium per year. If scaled to full commercial production, the facility could potentially produce up to 40 tonnes annually—representing approximately 5% of current global primary gallium output.

Global primary gallium production currently exceeds 700 metric tonnes per year, with all supply sourced from outside North America. By establishing domestic gallium production in Canada, Rio Tinto aims to enhance regional supply chains for this critical mineral, which is essential for semiconductors, electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, and advanced electronics.

This investment positions Rio Tinto as a key player in North America’s emerging critical minerals strategy while supporting long-term growth in high-tech and clean energy industries.