RTX has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Tawazun Council and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) to investigate the production of gallium at EGA’s facility in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
This agreement was announced by US President Donald Trump during the final phase of his trip across three nations in the Gulf region, outlining plans to establish gallium extraction and refining capabilities at EGA’s alumina refinery.
If successful, this initiative would position the UAE as the second-largest gallium producer globally, following China.
“Gallium is a crucial element for cutting-edge electronic systems, yet its production remains commercially challenging,” stated EGA’s CEO, Abdulnasser Bin Kalban.
“The collaboration among Tawazun Council, EGA, and RTX renders the establishment of a new gallium source in the UAE possible, thereby generating an additional revenue stream for EGA and enhancing the UAE’s industrial capabilities in line with our national industrial growth strategy, Operation 300bn.”
Essential Mineral
This essential mineral is utilized across various industries, including defense.
For RTX, the compound Gallium Nitride is crucial for advanced radar systems, which include the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) and GEM-T missiles used in the Patriot air defense system.
Subsequent to their memorandum of understanding, RTX and EGA may progress to a feasibility study for establishing a “high purity gallium plant” at EGA’s Al Taweelah alumina refinery, which transforms bauxite ore into alumina.
Gallium is present in minute quantities within bauxite.
“The aerospace and defense sector depends on a stable supply of rare earth elements,” remarked Paolo Dal Cin, RTX’s senior vice president for operations and supply chain.
“This agreement sets us on a track toward securing a dependable supply of gallium, which is necessary for the production of critical aerospace and defense solutions.”
China’s Dominance
This agreement comes in light of China’s announcement to restrict the export of three vital minerals with military applications — gallium, germanium, and antimony — to the United States in December.
This action was retaliatory, responding to the US’s export restrictions on semiconductors and related equipment to China.
The goal was to hinder China’s progress in developing advanced weaponry and AI systems with military implications.
China is estimated to produce and export around 90 percent of the world’s gallium, placing the US and its allies in a precarious position.
The distinct properties of gallium facilitate the creation of specialized semiconductors that are crucial for advanced weaponry, including radars, missile defense systems, electronic warfare, and communications.
Securing an alternative gallium source would alleviate Washington’s apprehensions regarding future supplies.