Gallium Production: RTX Partners with UAE for Supply
In a significant development for the defense sector, RTX has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Tawazun Council and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) to explore the production of gallium at EGA’s production facility in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This partnership was announced by US President Donald Trump during the final leg of his recent three-nation tour in the Gulf region. The initiative aims to establish extraction and refining capabilities for gallium at EGA’s alumina refinery, positioning the UAE to become the world’s second-largest producer of gallium, following China.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of EGA, emphasized the importance of gallium, stating, “Gallium is an important metal for the most advanced electronics systems but remains commercially challenging to produce.” This collaboration not only fosters a new source of gallium in the UAE but also aligns with the country’s industrial growth strategy, Operation 300bn, providing an additional revenue stream for EGA.
Significance of Gallium in Defense
Gallium, categorized as a critical mineral, has numerous applications, particularly in defense technologies. For RTX, the compound Gallium Nitride plays a vital role in advanced radar systems, such as the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS), as well as in GEM-T missiles utilized by the Patriot air defense system. Following the memorandum of understanding, RTX and EGA may conduct a feasibility study to establish a high-purity gallium plant at EGA’s Al Taweelah alumina refinery, where bauxite ore is transformed into alumina.
Paolo Dal Cin, RTX’s senior vice president for operations and supply chain, stated, “The aerospace and defense industry relies on stable access to rare earth elements. Today’s agreement puts us on a path towards a reliable supply of gallium, needed for the production of critical aerospace and defense solutions.” This emphasis on reliable supply is crucial as it underpins the technological advancements in defense operations.
Impact of China’s Export Restrictions
The formation of this agreement comes in response to China’s recent decision to impose an export ban on three critical minerals, including gallium, germanium, and antimony, that are essential for military applications. This move reflects a strategic countermeasure to the US’s own restrictions on the export of semiconductors and related technologies to China, which have aimed at curbing Beijing’s advancements in military technologies and artificial intelligence.
With China currently dominating the gallium market—accounting for about 90 percent of global production—the US and its allies find themselves in a precarious position. The unique properties of gallium are crucial for the manufacture of specialized semiconductors pivotal to advanced military systems, including radar technology and missile defense. As tensions escalate, establishing alternative sources such as the one proposed in the UAE would alleviate concerns regarding future supply vulnerabilities.
