The agreement aims to create gallium extraction and refining capabilities at EGA’s alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi. This development will secure stable access to gallium for RTX and other industries, addressing a crucial supply chain need for sectors including semiconductors, electric vehicles, medical devices, and telecom infrastructure.
Gallium plays a vital role in the defence industry as it is a key component in advanced radar systems. “The aerospace and defense industry relies on stable access to rare earth elements,” stated Paolo Dal Cin, senior vice president for operations and supply chain at RTX. “Today’s agreement puts us on a path towards a reliable supply of gallium, needed for production of critical aerospace and defense solutions.”
The project will involve a feasibility study for establishing a high-purity gallium plant at EGA’s Al Taweelah alumina refinery. This refinery processes bauxite ore into alumina, the raw material for aluminium production, where gallium is found in trace amounts. Managing gallium levels is crucial due to its status as an impurity in aluminium, particularly for high-precision applications.
His Excellency Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of Tawazun Council, emphasised the strategic importance of this project. He described it as a “pivotal milestone in developing the UAE’s vital industries, positioning the country as a global leader in gallium production — a rare metal essential for sectors including semiconductors, military radar, electric vehicles, medical technology, and telecommunications.”
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, chief executive officer of EGA, highlighted the commercial challenges associated with gallium production. He noted, “Gallium is an important metal for the most advanced electronics systems but remains commercially challenging to produce. This agreement between Tawazun Council, EGA, and RTX makes the development of a new source of gallium in the UAE feasible, creating an additional revenue stream for EGA and a new industrial capability for the UAE in line with our nation’s industrial growth strategy Operation 300bn.”
