Project puts WA on path to become a global critical mineral hub

Cutting edge technology and devices across the world may soon use Western Australian gallium, with Curtin University and Nimy Resources to undertake a pioneering research program into processing the in-demand critical mineral crucial to the world’s high-tech industries.

Gallium is a key component for semiconductors, smartphones, LED lighting, solar panels and more, while also playing a vital role in producing compounds necessary for high-performance electronics, high-speed data transfer and energy-efficient power systems.

Currently, domestic and international industries which rely on secure and sustainable supplies of gallium are reliant on a small number of international producers of varying reliability, with no established extraction or refining capability in Australia.

To address this, the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) will contribute $550,000 to the two-year project, which is co-funded by Nimy and Curtin University-led Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer and will investigate innovative pathways to concentrate, extract and refine gallium ores locally.

Curtin Executive Director Commercialisation Rohan McDougall said Curtin was proud to apply its metallurgical expertise to such a strategically important project.

“Demand for gallium is rising rapidly, so developing local processing capability is critical to ensuring supply chain resilience and supporting the clean energy transition,” Mr McDougall said.

“Sustainable gallium processing in Western Australia would not only strengthen Australia’s sovereign supply of critical minerals, but also deliver vital skills, research opportunities and shared knowledge with the next generation of scientists and engineers.”

Nimy Resources managing director Luke Hampson said the MRIWA funding was a major step in unlocking the mineral resources at Nimy’s Mons Project in Western Australia.

“By working with Curtin University, we aim to establish Australia’s first gallium processing capability to support global technology supply chains, reduce reliance on international producers and position WA as a global leader in critical minerals innovation,” Mr Hampson said.

WASM’s Dr Jonah Gamutan will be chief investigator and lead the project across three phases, covering mineral characterisation and process definition, extraction and purification technologies, and compound production and process optimisation.

This will provide the foundation for future pilot-scale testing and potential commercialisation.