Metlen produces 5kg gallium, achieves milestone in bauxite processing

Evangelos Mytilineos, founder and CEO of Metlen Εnergy & Metals, posted on social media that the global industrial and energy company successfully produced 5 kilogrammes of gallium. It has marked a milestone in Europe’s critical minerals roadmap, since gallium, as a by-product of bauxite, plays a significant role in electronics and semiconductors. 

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This is the foundational step for large-scale rare earth mineral production, despite the limited initial production volume. The procedure was carried out at the historic “Aluminium of Greece” plant in central Greece.

Situated in Viotia, Metlen has targeted a ramp-up of gallium output to 5-10 tonnes in 2026. It would be reinforced by a broader investment programme worth EUR 295.5 million, launched in March to expand Greece’s production capacity of bauxite, alumina and gallium. The expansion is developed to strengthen Europe’s access to key upstream materials while reducing dependence on external suppliers. 

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The European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) has designated Metlen’s initiative a Strategic Project, highlighting its role in the enhancement of regional supply security. Additionally, the European Investment Bank project has granted EUR 50 million to the project in additional financing, with long-term production targets of 50 tonnes of gallium per year from 2028 onward.

The company has positioned the investment as a strategic lever for Europe’s metallurgy and mining sectors, noting that it is currently the only project that simultaneously strengthens the EU’s autonomy across bauxite, alumina (and aluminium) and gallium, all being classified as “critical raw materials.”

A recent article by the German business daily Handelsblatt further mentioned Metlen’s emerging role in Europe’s critical minerals strategy, especially at a time when China controls more than 98 per cent of global gallium supply. The report emphasised the importance of the company’s efforts to expand upstream production and recover gallium for high-value applications in technology, semiconductors and defence. 

Image source: Metlen Εnergy & Metals LinkedIn page

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