Rio Tinto’s gallium R&D project gets Canadian gov’t backing

Rio Tinto (ASX, LSE: RIO) is moving forward on a research and development project to extract primary gallium from its alumina refinery in Quebec, with potential financial backing from the Canadian government.

In a press release on Monday, the Australian miner said it has been conditionally approved for a C$18.95 million non-repayable contribution from Natural Resources Canada through its Global Partnerships Initiative (GPI).

The NRCan contribution adds to the C$7 million already committed to the project by the Quebec government in December 2024.

In May 2025, Rio successfully extracted its first gallium from its Vaudreuil alumina refinery. The extraction was carried out in partnership with New York-based materials refiner Indium Corporation.

The companies then proceeded to assess the extraction of gallium extraction techniques at a larger scale, with plans to build a demonstration plant at Rio’s aluminum production hub in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. Once operational, the pilot plant would have the capacity to produce up to 4 tonnes of gallium per year, starting in 2027.

5% of global supply

Gallium is considered a critical, strategic material that is essential to high-speed, high-efficiency electronics and modern technology. However, primary gallium is only available in limited quantities globally, with current world production standing at more than 700 metric tonnes per year, all from outside North America.

Rio estimates that the transition to a commercial-scale plant could see its production reach 40 tonnes annually, representing approximately 5% of global production.

“Our Vaudreuil alumina refinery in Québec, Canada, is a strategic asset for our integrated aluminum operations,” Rio Tinto’s aluminum and lithium chief executive Jérôme Pécresse said in the press release.

Operating since 1936, the Vaudreuil refinery supplies 70% of the alumina needs of Rio Tinto’s smelters in the region, with a production capacity of 1 million tonnes per year. Located in Arvida, within the Jonquière Complex, the plant is the only facility in Canada that extracts alumina from bauxite.

“Extracting gallium from our existing refining process would create additional value from this asset and strengthen the North American supply chain for gallium, a critical mineral used in everything from high-performance radars, to smartphones, electric cars and laptops,” Pécresse said.

“Research and development are essential to building the responsible and resilient critical mineral supply chains that power clean energy, advanced manufacturing and defence readiness,” Tim Hodgson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said.

“By supporting innovative projects like those led by Rio Tinto, we are strengthening Canada’s leadership in technologies that reduce environmental impacts, improve productivity and build long‑term economic and security resilience.”