As part of a research and development program, Rio Tinto is assessing the potential for extracting and valorising gallium, a critical and strategic mineral already present in the bauxite processed in its alumina refinery in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, the only one in Canada. When the preliminary phase of technology development is conclusive, Rio Tinto plans to build a demonstration plant in Saguenay for extraction technology that can produce up to 3.5 tonnes of gallium per year. The Government of Quebec has committed up to CAD 7 million for the demonstration phase.

eventually, the extraction potential of a commercial-scale plant could reach 40 tonnes annually, representing between 5 and 10% of current world gallium production. Primary gallium is used in key sectors, including the manufacture of integrated circuits, which are of vital importance in many new technologies such as high-performance radar, smartphones, electric cars and laptops.