Key Minerals: It Will Take Years and Billions of Dollars for the US to Achieve Self-Sufficiency in Gallium

According to the key mineral agreement reached by the US, Australia, and New Zealand, Alcoa's gallium recovery and refining project has been listed as a priority. Why is this rare metal receiving such high attention?

Ruslan Dimukhamedov, chairman of the Russian Association of Rare and Rare Earth Metal Producers and Consumers, told Sputnik News: "The US currently has no domestic gallium production capability."

He said: "China is the recognized global supplier, accounting for more than 95% of the output."

Data shows that the US consumes an estimated 30 to 50 tons of gallium annually, a strategic material supporting core needs in defense, aerospace, and communications industries:

Gallium arsenide (GaAs) is used in high-frequency chips in smartphones, satellite communication, radar systems, and fiber optic networks

Gallium nitride (GaN) is a key material for the advanced active phased array radar, electronic warfare systems, and 5G base stations on the F-35 fighter jet

Since August 1, 2023, China has implemented export controls on gallium and germanium-related items, prompting the US to accelerate the construction of alternative supply chains. However, experts warn that achieving self-sufficiency still faces serious challenges.

Dimukhamedov said: "The US currently has almost no facilities for extracting gallium from bauxite production waste. Building related infrastructure from scratch will take 5-10 years, with investment reaching tens of billions of dollars."

This industrial upgrade is described as a systematic project comparable to rebuilding the aluminum industry and establishing a new chemical system.

Dimukhamedov added: "Achieving complete self-sufficiency in gallium is a ten-year strategic goal, which cannot be achieved in the short term. Australia can assist the US as a raw material supplier, but core technologies still need to be independently developed by the US."

On the local time of the 20th, President Trump of the United States and Australian Prime Minister Albanese signed a pact on rare earths and key minerals at the White House.

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Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1846657505015819/

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