How Power Minerals and Gega Elements Aim to Break China’s Gallium Monopoly
Power Minerals has partnered with Australian tech firm Gega Elements to develop a gallium extraction process from its Santa Anna Project in Brazil, aiming to establish a vertically integrated supply chain amid rising global demand and supply risks.
- Engagement with Gega Elements to test and develop gallium extraction flowsheet
- Focus on creating a sovereign, environmentally responsible refining pathway
- Santa Anna Project hosts high-grade gallium samples with grades up to 232.7g/t Ga2O3
- Gallium’s strategic importance highlighted by China’s export ban and rising prices
- Power to expand drilling and pursue commercial agreements pending test results
Strategic Partnership for Gallium Extraction
Power Minerals Limited (ASX, PNN) has taken a significant step towards unlocking the value of its Santa Anna Project in Brazil by engaging Gega Elements Pty Ltd, an Australian technology company pioneering advanced gallium refining methods. This collaboration marks the beginning of metallurgical testing on high-grade gallium samples, aiming to develop a bespoke extraction flowsheet tailored to the unique characteristics of Power’s deposit.
Gega Elements is known for its proprietary materials science research focused on creating cost-effective and environmentally responsible refining technologies. Their approach aligns with Power’s ambition to build a vertically integrated gallium supply chain, reducing reliance on dominant global suppliers and enhancing sovereign capability.
Gallium’s Growing Strategic Importance
Gallium is a critical mineral essential for semiconductors, advanced communications, and defense electronics. Currently, China controls approximately 98% of global gallium supply, a concentration that has raised geopolitical and supply security concerns. Recent export restrictions by China have driven gallium prices to around US$1275 per kilogram, underscoring the urgency for alternative sources.
Power’s engagement with Gega comes at a time when governments are actively supporting domestic production initiatives. Notably, Alcoa Corporation and Sojitz recently secured US$200 million in Australian government funding for a new gallium plant in Western Australia, reflecting the mineral’s rising strategic profile.
High-Grade Gallium Resource at Santa Anna
Exploration data from Santa Anna reveals exceptionally high gallium grades, with assays reaching up to 232.7 grams per tonne of gallium oxide (Ga2O3) in some drill samples. Multiple intersections exceed 50g/t Ga2O3, highlighting the project’s potential as a significant gallium source. Power is advancing a 10,000-meter drilling program to expand the mineralised footprint, targeting niobium and rare earth elements alongside gallium.
Pending metallurgical test results, Power intends to formalise a commercial agreement with Gega to integrate their refining technology into a full supply chain solution. This would encompass technical validation, economic modelling, and coordination with government and strategic end-users.
Looking Ahead
Power Minerals’ collaboration with Gega Elements represents a forward-looking strategy to address the global gallium supply shortage through innovation and resource development. If successful, it could position Power as a key player in the critical minerals sector, offering a more secure and sustainable source of gallium for advanced manufacturing industries worldwide.
Bottom Line?
Power Minerals’ next metallurgical test results will be pivotal in transforming gallium supply dynamics and advancing its Santa Anna Project’s value.
Questions in the middle?
- Will Gega Elements’ proprietary refining technology prove commercially viable at scale?
- How will Power Minerals navigate geopolitical risks and secure government support for gallium production?
- What impact will expanded drilling have on the overall resource estimate and project economics?
